In the Sierra Nevada 319 



Stonechat. — Four eggs, April 29. 



Bladcchat and Crai/-iiMitin. — Both conspicuous by their absence. 



[This applies to the higher siei-ra — both were observed in the lower 

 Monachil— say 4000 feet.] 



Ortolans (apparently just arriving during early days of May), with cirl and 

 rock-buntings, were frequent up to the limits of scrub-growth, say 7500 feet. 



llock-sparrow. — Breeding in crags on lower slopes. 



JVoodlark. — Lower hills : young on wing, end April. 



Short-toed Lark. — Lower hills : about to nest here. 



Crested Lark. — Lower hills : common. 



Taioiiii Pipit. — Plentiful, scattered in pairs over the arid hills : males sing- 

 ing tree-pipit fashion, soaring downwards with tail spread overhead. 



Great, Blue, and Cole-tits. — Common, the latter only among the open woods 

 of pine ( Finns pinaster). 



Ilawn and Chough. — -A few. 



Hoopoe, Kestrel, and Little Old. — A few. 



Partridge (redleg). — Scarce : a pair and a single l»ird observed at JSOOO feet 

 among snow-patches and junipers. 



Chaffinches and Serins. — First broods on wing, end April ; nests for second 

 broods building early in May. 



Linnets. — Common up to scrub-limit. 



Dippers. — Observed on Genii, Darro, Monachil, and all the rivers visited. 



Pied Flycatcher. — A male observed on migration, April 30. 



In the stupendous rock-gorges which enclose the lower course and outlet 

 of Monachil (3500-5000 feet) are situate the breeding-places of the few 

 griffon-vultures which inhabit this sierra. With them nest some Neophrons, 

 and there is ft " Choughery " at 4000 feet, while crag-martins and blackchats 

 (not observed elsewhere), with many blue thrushes, find a congenial home 

 among these giant crags. 



While lunching, our goat-herd guide was pointing out rock- 

 crannies where wolves, from lack of brushwood, used to lie up 

 by day, and complaining that he could not keep poultry by reason 

 of the marten-cats. Suddenly he broke out in shrill and altered 

 tones : " Tell me, Caballero," he exclaimed, " tell me why you 

 come here from lands afar to suffer discomfort and hardship 

 and to undergo all these labours — why do you do this?" We 

 endeavoured to explain. " You see, Gregorio, that God created 

 all manner of animals dilierent one from another. So also He 

 created mankind in many different races — all brothers, yet differ- 

 ing as brothers do. You Spanish belong to the Latin race. 

 You have many fine qualities, some of which we lack. But you 

 rather concern yourselves with material things and disregard 

 platonic study. We of British race are imbued with desire to 

 learn all that can be traced of Nature and her ways. Some 

 examine the earth itself, its formations and transformations ; 

 others the birds or the beasts. There are those who devote 



