IBEX-SHOOTING IN SPAIN. 147 



on rocks : yet we have twice in Andalucia noticed them 

 apparently doing both these things — associated with 

 Griffons — but without, on either occasion, reducing the 

 observation to proof. The above statement, however, 

 tends to confirm the fact. Bird-life, as in most mountain- 

 regions, was not abundant here. Buzzards soared over 

 the pines, and the song of our common thrushes and black- 

 birds rang through the woods as at home. Higher up 

 were ring-ousels and redstarts, wheatears (Saspicola aurita 

 and S. stapazina), black chats (Dromoloea leucura), sky- 

 larks and titlarks — all these breeding. Besides these, 

 we also observed the Egyptian Vulture, the Alpine pipit 

 (Anthiis spipoletta), and Alpine accentor (Accentor collaris), 

 both common, the blue thrush, rock-thrush, nuthatch, and 

 Dartford warbler : and on May 10th, at 5,500 feet, after a 

 stormy night, picked up, in a disabled state, a pretty little 

 bluethroat (Cyanecula wolfi, Brehm) of the unspotted, variety, 

 with entirely blue gorget. This little wanderer had doubt- 

 less perished by the severities of weather encountered in 

 crossing this lofty' range on his passage to the north. 

 During an afternoon's trouting in a hill-burn on May 13th, 

 the following additional species were observed (altitude 

 5,000 feet) — ortolans, cirl- and corn-buntings, stonechats, 

 wagtails, crag- martins, and sandpiper. 



Bavens and choughs tenanted the crags, and the red- 

 legs were met with very high up. Both in this sierra, in 

 Nevada, and other alpine ranges, we have kept a strict 

 look-out for ptarmigan, but not a sign of them have we 

 met with. They are unknown to the cazadores of the 

 sierras, and it appears certain that none exist in Spain, 

 save in the Pyrenees. 



On some precipitous rocks adjoining one of our posts 

 to-day was an eyry of some large bird of prey — either a 

 lammergeyer or some eagle, whose young brood kept up a 

 plaintive, chattering wail while we were there. The spot, 

 however, was inaccessible owing to deep snow and tre- 

 mendous canchos which intervened. One day, close to the 

 snow-line, we came across a fat, blue-grey little beastie, 

 apparently of the dormouse tribe (Liron, in Spanish), but 



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