626 On the Birds of Gran Canaria. 



Ravens are numerous in Gran Canaria, particularly in 

 the south of the island near Maspalomas and Juan Grande, 

 Avhere I have seen as many as twenty at a time folloM'ing 

 the plough. In the Cumbrcs tliey are plentiful, and when we 

 were encamped at 5000 ft. their hoarse croakings nsed to 

 rouse us very early in the mornings as they flew over the tent. 

 They breed in the most inaccessible cliffs, laying from three 

 to six eggs. Specimen a had a huge nest placed on a ledge 

 liigh up a sloping cliff close to tlie main road. This nest 

 was almost completed on April 8th, but contained no eggs. 

 In the north of the island they are not nearly so common. 

 A pair frequent the clifts on the north-west and can be seen 

 Avending their waj' every evening over the golf-links 

 towards Guanarteme. They feed largely on carrion, and a 

 dead mule or sheep is sure to attract some of these birds in 

 company with the ^ ultures. 



The following species, not mentioned in the foregoing list, 

 have also occurred in Gran Canaria on migration, as given 

 on the authority of Herr von Thanuer : — 



Alaiida arvensis. Sky-Lark. Near Maspalomas, 25th 

 Feb. and 3rd ]\Iarch. Two and six birds respectively. 



RvticiUa phoenicura. Redstart. Pinar near Mogan, 27th 

 March. 



Chlor'is aurantiiventris. Greenfinch. Moya, 12th April. 



"While Herr Polatzek records Merops apiaster (the Common 

 Bee-eater) as a " bird of passage.'^ 



Ducks and AYaders have been recorded from time to time as 

 having occurred in the " Charco" at Maspalomas. As long 

 ago as 1857, Dr. Carl Bolle, writing in the ' Journal fiir 

 Ornithologie ' for that year, mentions among others the 

 following species as having occurred in the island. I have 

 given the names which Dr. Bolle employed verbatim, adding 

 the English appellations : — 



Himantopus melanopteriis Temm. Black-winged Stilt. 

 (Maspalomas.) 



