EOCKY CLIFFS, ETC. 29 



right ; these ranges are the breeding-places of Griffon Vultures 

 and other rock-breeding birds, and are well worthy of a visit. 



I here give the names of a few of the rocky cliffs which should 

 be visited by those who wish to see such places : la Laja de la 

 Zarga and la Silla del Papa, in the Sierra de Plata ; la Laja del 

 Ciscar *, to the east of and near Taivilla ; Piedra de Paz, near 

 Paterna ; la Laja de los Pajaros, los Jolluelos, and la Laja de 

 Peiiarroyo, near Casas Viejas. 



There are also magnificent cliffs in the Sierra de las Cabras, 

 east of Alcala de los Gazules, and hundreds of others which I 

 saw but could not find time to visit. I did not care to send 

 "collectors" to bring eggs without the birds to which they 

 belonged ; or, as is often the case with these worthies, they 

 would have brought eggs with birds to which they did not belong, 

 and, with unblushing effrontery, sworn perhaps, as I have known 

 them do, that a Turkey's egg was taken by them in a high cliff, 

 and belonged to an " Aguila de las rocas." 



It is to be hoped that this book may not be the cause of the 

 useless or unnecessary destruction of any bird, and especially 

 that dealers may not profit thereby. All mentioned is intended 

 for the benefit of true ornithologists, and not for those who are 

 never satisfied unless killing or having killed as many rare birds 

 as possible. 



It will be seen that there is sport to be had in Andalucia ; 

 and the shooting has the charm of a varied bag, and the freedom 

 to wander where you like, as a rule ; added to which it is 

 necessary to work for your game, which, in my idea, adds much 

 to the pleasure of sport. The climate, too, is all that can be 

 wished, especially in spring, when there is something most 

 exhilarating in the air; but in autumn, until October, it is too 

 warm to go out with pleasure, and the sun-baked, tawny, dusty, 

 thirsty-looking country has lost all the beauty of its flowers and 

 the verdure of spring. To see Andalucia, it should be visited in 



* This name is from " ciscar," to besmear, the whole face of the laja being so 

 whitened by th.3 Vultures' droppings as to be conspicuous some miles off. 



