146 VULTURID.E. 



and brambles well interlaced. The space between these tussocks 

 is covered with rushes and sedges, growing in mud and water, in 

 places up to the waist. In my first expedition to the nest it took 

 me more than half an hour to reach the tree, a distance of only 

 about a hundred and fifty yards from the edge of this paradise of 

 Water-Rails and aquatic Warblers. Upon climbing the tree it 

 was very difficult to see into the nest, as it so overhung, owing 

 to the great breadth ; and, alas ! there was no egg, not even any 

 lining. 



A few days after, on the 26th of February, I again examined 

 the nest, only to find it lined with wool and a few dried rushes. 

 Muster-day at Gibraltar, on the 28th, compelled our return to the 

 Rock ; so I engaged a man to take the nest and bring the egg to 

 Gibraltar, which he never did, probably not liking the journey 

 through the swampy jungle. The following year this nest was 

 not used by any birds; but in 1874 a pair of White-shouldered 

 Eagles took possession, repairing the nest and lining it with fresh 

 green boughs. This was early in March ; and with persistent 

 bad luck, on our return there in April, my friend found nothing 

 in the nest, although the Eagles were about ; either they had 

 been robbed of their eggs, or else had deserted owing to too 

 frequent examination. Verner took a nest, in the spring of 1875, 

 of the White-shouldered Eagle from this tree, which was subse- 

 quently burnt down, and he observed a pair of Black Vultures 

 about the vicinity of the Malabrigo during that and the four 

 following springs. He told me that once he came across a large 

 flock of Griffons feeding on a dead horse, and among these birds 

 was a single Black Vulture, which he watched and noticed was 

 master of the situation and drove away any Griffon that attempted 

 to feed too near. 



The Black Vulture is said to nest near Utrera; but upon 

 inquiry I could not ascertain such to be the case ; they appear to 

 go further north to breed, as Lord Lilford found them nesting 

 towards Madrid, and in one season received no less than some 



