Avifauna of the Eastern Pyrenees. 525 



these ceased at 7100 feet. At the very summit of the pass 

 we saw a pair of Sky Larks^ the first we had seen in the 

 Pyrenees, and the male soon after hovered above and poured 

 forth his Avelcome song over the snow as blithely as we ever 

 heard it over an English meadow. On the few bare wind- 

 swept patches were a few Wheatears and Water Pipits. A 

 Common Martin, too, had ventured thus far in search of 

 food, and was busily engaged skimming the snow. The scene 

 around us was of the grandest possible description. On every 

 side were the numerous " pics," many of them over 10,000 

 feet, and their little-less-lofty connecting-ridges, which shut 

 in so very effectually this little Republic of Andorra from 

 the outside world. This high enclosing rim and its flanks, 

 as seen from this stand-point, were entirely mantled with 

 glistening snow, and presented a sti'ikingly beautiful pano- 

 rama, which we were fortunate in seeing under most favour- 

 able conditions, the day being brilliantly fine and the deep 

 blue sky without a cloud. 



A steep descent brought us to the hamlet of Saldeu, the 

 most north-westerly in the Republic, near the head of its 

 main valley, 6000 feet in altitude, and a miserable little 

 place, still almost entirely surrounded by snow. 



Before proceeding further it may be well to make a few 

 general remarks on this interesting country. The Republic 

 of Andorra may be said to consist of au isolated valley in 

 the heart of the Pyrenees, since it is cut off from France on 

 the one hand and Spain on the other by a rim of lofty moun- 

 tains, ranging in altitude from 8000 to 10,000 feet, and is 

 approached on all sides by mule-paths only. It comprises a 

 main valley — the valley of the River Valira — and several 

 side valleys, two of which are of some importance, namely 

 those of Urdino and Escaldas, and have led to Andorra 

 being described as consisting of three valleys, and also to its 

 being known in France as " Les Vallees." Not only, how- 

 ever, is this little State hemmed in by the Pyrenees, but lofty 

 mountains everywhere dominate its interior, rendering it 

 entirely an alpine region intersected by a few narrow valleys 

 or ravines, and it has been said of it, on the highest authority *, 

 * The lion James Ei::ikine Murray. 



