260 



WILD SPAIN. 



the most pernicious to game and all the defenceless 

 creation. It is, in fact, a warfare of raptor versus rap- 

 torem, of feathered freebooter against scaled marauder, 

 and the harmless and peaceful balance of creation benefit 

 by that internecine state of war. 



The destruction that is wrought by the larger reptiles is 

 difficult to exaggerate ; both snakes and lizards are 

 inveterate egg-stealers, and also devour large quantities 

 of young game, whether furred or feathered, besides other 

 creatures. Gliding noiselessly, rapidl}^, and with an infinite 



■J"^ 



EYED-LTZARD AND SERPENT -EAGLE. 



stealth, their approach is imperceptible, whether through 

 brushwood or scrub, through shallow water or yielding 

 sand, whether above ground or below — they penetrate 

 the deep burrows of rabbit or Bee-eater, and scale the 

 loftiest fortresses of tree-nesting sjjecies. Equally at 

 home on the ground or amongst the topmost branches, 

 nothing can well escape the larger serpents and saurians. 

 Were they not held in check by nature's counterpoise, 

 hardly a young rabbit could survive, or a Partridge, 

 Quail, or Wild Duck succeed in rearing their broods. 

 Neither ground nor tree-nesting birds are safe : we have 



