132 COLUMBID/E. 
caused tliem to lack protection I cannot say. This old fellow, 
who had served as a sergeant in the Spanish army, and was 
])resent at the defence of Tarifa in 1811, was a fine specimen 
of the Spaniard, and used to tell wonderful stories of his sol- 
diering days. I regret that since his decease the Venta has 
changed for the worse, both in prices and accommodation. 
188. Garrulus glandarius, Linn, The Common Jay. 
Spanish. Arrendajo. 
The common Jay is very plentiful near Gibraltar in the 
Cork-wood, and in the wooded valleys and hill-sides up to a 
considerable elevation. At the same time it is rather local ; 
and though numbers are resident, it seems to be more abun- 
dant in the winter months. This bird is not recorded by 
Favier from Morocco ; nor could I obtain any species of Jay 
on the African side. It would seem, however, probable that 
they would sometimes cross the Straits, as they occasionally 
appear at Gibraltar in winter. Four frequented the Alameda 
and other gardens in the south from about the 10th of No- 
vember, 1870, to the 4th of April, 1871; and I saw another 
in March 1872 ; this last bird did not linger about for more 
than a few days. 
The Jay nests in some numbers in the Cork-wood, laying 
its eggs early in May ; and, at that season particularly, tliey 
are easily decoyed within shot by secreting one's self in thick 
cover and imitating either their call or the squeal of a 
wounded rabbit. 
Order COLUMB.E. 
Family Columbid^. 
189. CoLUMBA PALUMBus, Liuu. The Ring-Dove. 
Moorish. Kamoor. Spanish. Paloma torcaz. 
" This Pigeon is found near Tangier throughout the year. 
Some are migratory, crossing to Europe in March and April." 
— Favier. >/ 
In some localities in Morocco the Wood-Pi yl^eon positively 
swarms. In April, up a valley near the Foudak, to the south- 
