Birds of the Pyrenees. 69 



which the harpooner had got " fast/' but the iron had broken, 

 and, considering the absolute inexperience of all concerned, 

 this was just as well. These whales were called cachalots, but, 

 from the description of their " spouts,'' they were certainly 

 not sperm-whales. In the small collection were a young 

 Razorbill (an uncommon bird in the Mediterranean) and a 

 Black Tern, while a young Lesser Black -backed Gull and 

 the Mediterranean representative of our Manx Shearwater 

 were waiting to be skinned. The two following days were 

 devoted to the exploration of the coast on both sides of the 

 frontier, and some time was wasted over a bird which it was 

 hoped might prove a Lanner Falcon ; but Kestrels and a 

 Black Kite were the only birds of prey identified. We got 

 very near to a nest of the Eaven containing young birds; 

 Eared Wheatears were abundant on the hill-side, and Pied 

 Flycatchers in the small cork-woods, where we also observed 

 the Marsh-Tit ; an occasional Hoopoe flitted past, and the 

 favourite haunt of the Whinchat seemed to be small scrub 

 along the seashore. 



Passing on to Figueras, in Spain, no time was lost in 

 setting out for the marshes on the Gulf of Rosas, and also 

 for Cadaques, about 20 miles off, on a rocky peninsula of 

 the same name. Owing to the drought in Spain, there was 

 somewhat less water than usual, but by the time Castellon- 

 de-Ampurias was reached we had found that the expanses 

 of water marked on the maps had long since been drained, 

 while the marshes were mere spongy bogs, with just enough 

 green stagnant water to be unwholesome and to harbour a 

 few waterfowl in winter. Some Marsh- Harriers were there, 

 of course, and a Stork seemed to have a nest by some farm- 

 buildings in the distance, while Crested and Short-toed 

 Larks ran along the roads; but nothing of importance was 

 noticed. At Castellon-de-Ampurias there is a fine old 

 church, with a double font of immense size, respecting which 

 the French guide-books are silent ; while at Rosas the ruined 

 fort, so stubbornly defended by Lord Cochrane, is worth a 

 visit, and the view, as the road winds upward towards 

 Cadaques, is superb. As regards birds, there was not much 



