26 INTRODUCTION. 



in most countries I have visited. It is difficult to surmise the 

 cause of this, .as precisely similar tracts of country within no 

 very great distance of each other are not always frequented 

 by the same birds. On the Spanish side, without doubt, the 

 most common bird as regards numbers is the Goldfinch, and 

 the most universally distributed the Stonechat. The number 

 of birds of prey is very great, chiefly feeding on rabbits, rats, 

 mice, reptiles, and insects ; they are very useful, and as the 

 ground-breeding birds suffer much in the nesting-season from 

 snakes and lizards, those birds of prey which feed chiefly on 

 these enemies of the smaller birds render their lesser brethren 

 valuable protection. The number of little birds, especially 

 during the season of migration, is sure to be noticed even by 

 the most unobservant. Immense quantities of Larks, Finches, 

 and even some of the Warblers are brought into the markets ; 

 but as a Spaniard seldom shoots at such small fry, they are 

 chiefly netted, caught at night with a lantern and bell, or snared 

 with bird-lime (%#). 



The best localities for an ornithologist living at Gibraltar 

 to obtain specimens or watch migration is the country west 

 of an imaginary line drawn due north from Gibraltar as far as 

 the latitude of Seville. Within this district, part of which is 

 given in the Map attached to this volume, as much can be done 

 as is possible in three or four months' time ; and the district is 

 large enough to require many years to work it out thoroughly. 



In the immediate vicinity of Gibraltar (or el Penon, as the 

 Spaniards call it), the Cork-wood of Almoraima and the level 

 ground, mud-flats, and old salinas " between the rivers " on 

 the way to Algeciraz offer to the collector capital ground for 

 work. In the Cork-wood particularly several birds are found 

 breeding which do not seem to nest elsewhere. The ground 

 north-east of Gibraltar is to a great extent covered with scrub 

 and brushwood ; and little is to be done in the bird line in that 

 direction. 



