318 Unexplored Spain 



but ill summer tliey are distributed along the whole of the 

 " hi""!! tops" nnd are still maintaining their numbers as usual. 



AVe had cherished the hope of meeting with ptarmigan and 

 other alpine forms in these high sierras, especially during our 

 earlier expeditions after ibex. AVe are satisfied that ptarmigan 

 at least do not exist, having seen no trace of them at any 

 point ; but we never saw the snow-finch either, and it is reported 

 to exist in numbers. 



Oh! the wearying monotony of that long down-grade ride- — 

 the infinity of vast subrounded mountains, all alike, all ugly, 

 all sprinkled rather than clad with low gorse and spiky broom, 

 like millions of pincushions with all points outwards. Then the 

 g|;i.^le — the very earth seemed disintegrated. Red shale and blue, 

 cinder-grey and lemon-yellow ; some schistose and sparkling, 

 the bulk dull and dead. Here and there, amid oceans of friable 

 detritus, stand out great rocks of more durable substance — solitary 

 pinnacles, towers and turrets of fantastic form. Six hours of this 

 ere we reach the Vec/a of Granada. 



Ornithology 



For ornithologists the following notes on birds observed and 

 not already mentioned may here be inserted : — 



Blue and liock-thrushes. — Neither abundant, but the former most so in the 

 rock-gorges of lower Monachil, nesting in " pot-holes " and horizontal crevices 



of the crags. The rock-thrush is more 

 alpine and confined (here as elsewhere) 

 exclusively to the higher sierra. 



Missel-thrushes among ilex-trees at 7000 

 feet, apparently nesting : a few ivoodchats 

 observed at same points. 



Blackstart. — Plentiful, though less so 

 than on San Cristolial in Sieri'a de Jerez 

 (5000 feet). A nest in the crag over- 

 hanging our bathing-place in the burn at 

 San Geroninio contained five eggs on April 

 28. We found others on Monachil, and 

 ROCK-THRUSH grey wagtails were also breeding at both 



places. 

 Bonelli's Warhler. — Arrived, and preparing to nest, end of April : a few white- 

 throats and rufous warblers early in May. Robins and Avrens nesting, and 

 nightingales abundant in lower river-valley. 



Eared and Black-throated JFheatear. — Ubiquitous but not abundant. In both 

 these forms (as well as in the Common Wheatear) the males displayed a dual 

 stage of plumage ; some being completely adult, while others retained an im- 

 mature state somewhat resembling their first dress (May). 



