30 DRESSER : THREE WEEKS ON THE GUADALQUIVIR. 



Flycatcher {Muscicapa grisola), Coal Titmouse {Parus afer\ 

 Nightingale {Daulias luscinia), Dartford Warbler, Black Kite, 

 Common Kite, Roller {Coracias garrula), Red-leg Partridge {Perdix 

 riifa). Swallow {Hirtitido rustica), Crow {Corvus corone), Woodchat, 

 and several small birds which I did not identify. . After waiting an 

 hour a young underkeeper arrived with two strong horses, on one of 

 which were the usual large panniers, the other having on it a regular 

 Spanish saddle, with large shovel-shaped stirrups, just like we used to 

 have in Mexico, so I took possession of the steed, and found myself 

 quite at home again in the Spanish saddle. Our baggage and the 

 two baskets were packed in the panniers, and, Spaniard-like, Manuel, 

 the underkeeper, perched himself on the top of the load, whilst 

 I fastened the bag of corn behind my saddle. I carried only a 

 light stick-gun, but our man Miguel had a long Spanish gun with 

 him, and he and I arranged to ride and tie, as I preferred to walk as 

 much as possible, and in places where the water was deep both men 

 rode on the other horse, which seemed to carry them and the 

 baggage with ease. 



After going to the keeper's house to obtain a supply of fresh 

 water, which we carried with us in an earthenware jar, we pushed on 

 inland from the river through an undulating sandy country, and for 

 some distance passed through a rather straggling growth of pine 

 trees and bushes, and then entered into a succession of sandhills, 

 where the nearly-white sand was ankle-deep and the walking very 

 wearisome, especially as the sun was broiling hot. Amongst the 

 pine trees we saw a couple of Booted Eagles, but found no nest, and 

 several Black and Common Kites were also observed. A Common 

 Kite's nest was next found, but as it contained young in half down, 

 we left it untouched. Amongst the sand-hills were patches covered 

 with bushes and grass, and generally small shallow ponds were in 

 the middle of these patches, and from one of these we started a pair 

 of Black Storks {Ciconia nigra), which are said not to breed any- 

 where near here, and soon after we saw both Black Vultures 

 and Griffon Vultures {Gyps fulvus) circling round. Soon we 

 rode through a long narrow fertile belt, well covered with trees, and 

 in an open glade we saw some keepers' huts, and met one young 

 fellow, who had shot several Red-legged Partridges which he showed 

 us. In a more open part, where the trees were larger and more 

 scattered, we first found a Kite's nest with young, and then a nest of 

 the Spanish Imperial Eagle {Aquila adalberti), from which the old 

 bird flew as I rode up to the tree, showing the white on the shoulders 

 very clearly as she flew off. The nest was a large structure of sticks, 

 lined with grass, and was placed in a main fork of a tolerably large 



Naturalist, 



