2 INTRODUCTION. 



there chiefly with a view to ornithological pursuits, from time 

 to time making excursions, generally of about a fortnight's 

 duration, to some part or other within the districts above 

 mentioned, but chiefly confining my attentions jto the country 

 within a day's journey of Gibraltar. 



The observations on the Moorish birds are in a great measure 

 culled from the MS. of the late M. F. Favier, a French collector 

 well known to the ornithological world, who, after a residence 



** * * 



of about thirty-one years at Tangier, died there in 1867. I 

 "; was informed that he had left a MS. written in French, 

 containing his notes on birds ; but was not permitted by the 

 owner to do more than glance at it, although he offered it 

 for sale at what seemed to me a very exorbitant price. Fearing 

 to lose a book which might prove of considerable utility in 

 the pursuit of my favourite science, I yielded to his demands 

 and secured the coveted prize, but found upon perusal, amidst 

 a mass of bad grammar, bad spelling, and worse writing, which 

 cost many hours to decipher, that it did not contain so much 

 information as there was reason to anticipate, a good deal of 

 the matter having been copied from other authors. 



However, there was some grain among all this chaff; and 

 such facts and details as are considered worth recording are 

 given below with Favier's name attached, and supplemented 

 by my own observations in Morocco. These notes are kept 

 separate from those referring to the Spanish side of the Straits. 



This little work is, it may be distinctly understood, not 

 intended to give any special information to scientific ornitho- 

 logists, but is published with the view of assisting with trust- 

 worthy information any amateur collectors who visit South- 

 western Europe ; and it is hoped especially that it may be 

 useful to officers who, like the \vriter, may find themselves 

 quartered at Gibraltar. For it admits of little doubt that the 

 study of Natural History will always help to pass away with 

 pleasure many hours that would otherwise be weary and tedious 



