'^^o Unexplored Spain 



One resource remained — to climb on to the top ; and even in 

 that direction a single bad rock might cut off escape. No such 

 crowning catastrophe befell, but it was tooth-and-claw work, every 

 yard of it, and the vertical height could not have been less than 

 1000 feet. 



While thus " clawing up " I recollect passing a })erfect glory 

 in orchids — great twin purple blooms, golden-tipped and quite 

 amorphous in outline. They grew just beyond my reach. Curious 

 recumbent ferns clung to the rocks ; anemones and violet-like 

 bouquets peered from each cranny. 



Meanwhile L., approaching from the other side, had examined 

 the rock-stacks and succeeded in attaining one main objective — 

 the nest of the eagle-owl. This was in a rock-cavern, close by 

 that of '83, easy of access — indeed the great owl flew out in his 

 face as he passed below. The cave (four feet high by two 

 wide) was at the foot of a vertical limestone cliff, its floor level 

 with a goat-track that skirted the crag, and fully exposed to view ; 

 there was no nest nor any debris. Two young owls in white 

 down, with one ^g^^ actually " chipping," lay on the bare earth. 



One of the griffon's nests still contained (on April 8) a fresh 

 egg, which is now in the writer's collection as a memorial of that 

 day. We had secured all we had expected in the Puerta de 

 Palomas — and something more besides. 



