EXPERIENCES WITH EAGLES. 203 



larger eagles — an operation not unlike trying to dissect a 

 piano. 



The Black Vulture we have never found actually 

 breeding in Andalucia, though it does do so : and we have 

 observed single pairs, associated with Griffons, in the 

 sierras in May and July. Its chief nesting stronghold is 

 in the Castiles, where, in the Sierra de Gredos, we found 

 an eyry with young in May. This nest was on a pine. 

 In the south the Black Vulture is chiefly a winter bird. 



The curious diversity of character displayed by the 

 various raptores when captured, deserves a word of 

 notice. At the end of May, after six or eight weeks' 

 eagle-hunting, we had about a dozen large birds of prey 

 which were kept in a disused room. There was a mighty 

 commotion when any one entered — a couple of Serpent- 

 Eagles ceaselessly flapped and scuffled, while Booted Eagles 

 showed fight, and Marsh-Harriers, hacking into convenient 

 corners, stood facing one with outstretched wings, like 

 snarling cats all teeth and claws, and shrieking defiance 

 in wailing tones. The Kites, on the contrary, might all 

 have been dead, so limp and lifeless they lay, flat on the 

 floor, with gaping beak and protruding tongue. One winged 

 Kite we kept alive in the grounds at Jerez for years, but 

 though practically at liberty, he invariably feigned death 

 or deadly sickness when approached. Five minutes after- 

 wards, nevertheless, he was quite game to tackle one of 

 our chickens! In the. midst of the din and flutter sat 

 the Imperial Eagle, silent, motionless, and unconcerned ; 

 perched on the carcase of a Flamingo, his flat shapely 

 head turned slowly as the keen eye followed every move- 

 ment of the intruder, whose presence he otherwise 

 disdained. The Tawny Eagle (above mentioned) displayed 

 in captivity even greater insouciance and a nobler 

 demeanour than the Imperial, while both birds, heavy 

 and massive as they looked, exhibited marvellous agility 

 in pouncing upon the luckless rat who might presume to 

 trespass upon their domain and attempt to steal their 

 food. 



Such are some of our experiences of the eagles of the 



