194 WILD SPAIN. 



During the winter months in Andahicia one sees many of 

 these tawny-coloured eagles, the majority pale in hue — 

 " washed-out " as Griffon Vultures — (undoubtedly young 

 Imperials) — but there are others, less numerous, of a rich 

 l)right chestnut, and some of these, we think, may belong 

 to a different species. 



In April, 1883, the writer found a nest of one of these 

 large tawny eagles in the distant Corral de la Cita. It 

 was placed on the summit of a stone-pine, almost covering 

 the broad, bushy top, and we had an excellent view of the 

 old bird, as she rose from the nest about 100 yards 

 away : — de las coloradas, = " one of the tawny kind ! " as 

 my companion remarked. The place was remote, and 

 night too near to allow of our then awaiting her return 

 (though we shoidd have done so at any cost), so, after taking 

 the two eggs (large dusky white, quite spotless), substitut- 

 ing for them a couple of hard-boiled hen's eggs, and setting 

 a circular steel-trap in the nest, we left it. On return- 

 ing next morning there was no sign of the eagle at the 

 nest. After walking all round, shouting out, and going up 

 an adjacent sand-ridge which all but overlooked it, we were 

 satisfied she was not there, especially as the night before 

 she had risen rather wild. Accordingly we prepared to 

 ascend ; but whilst throwing the rope over the lowest 

 branches, a great shadow suddenly glided across the sand 

 beside me, and on looking up, there was the great chestnut- 

 coloured eagle slowly flapping from her nest within fifteen 

 or twenty yards overhead. Before I could drop the rope 

 and run to my gun, the chance was gone ; unluckily, how- 

 ever, the shot took some effect, and though it failed to 

 stop the eagle, she went away badly struck, with one leg 

 hanging down, and never returned. Thus, by bad luck, an 

 opportunity of settling a doubtful point was thrown away. 



In June of the same year (1883), we obtained a tawny 

 eagle, which we then imagined would be a young Imperial 

 of the year, and being only winged, the bird was placed in 

 the garden at Jerez, where it lived till the autumn of 1885. 

 It was then (at any rate) two and a half years old, and 

 possibly much older, yet it had never changed colour at 



