210 



WILD SPAIN. 



crags proper ; and by clambering over these we reached 

 sixteen nests— many very slight affairs, with bare, rock 

 projecting through the scanty structure — of which only 

 two held more than a single poult. The nests of the 

 Griffon — albeit malodorous — are always cleanly. These 

 vultures feed their young exclusively on half-digested food 

 which they disgorge from their own crops — hence there is 

 no carrion or putrefying matter lying about, as is the case 

 at the nests of the Neophron and Lammergeyer. It is 

 the male • vulture only that, at this season, undertakes 

 lengthened journeys into the plains and low-lands, remain- 

 ing absent for days together in search of supplies, and 

 returning crop-full of unsavoury store. The vultures 

 seen on the distant plains in spring are all males, the 

 females remaining at or near their nests. The sketch on 

 page 209 represents a curious scene. On the treeless plains 

 of the Isla Mayor many vultures roost (in April) on a 

 solitary clump of dead encinas, the lower branches and 

 forks of which are also occupied by the nests of five or six 

 pairs of White Storks. 



Three of these eyries were situate on abrupt, detached 

 stacks of rock, so easily accessible that we almost 

 "walked" into them. Some years afterwards, passing 

 through this sierra on March 1st, we found the three stacks 

 occupied as before, each nest containing a single egg. 



During this scramble we came suddenly upon a pair of 

 Eagle-Owls, solemnly dreaming away the hours in a deep 

 cavern ; but, being in an awkward position on the crag- 

 face, could not spare a hand to secure them. These 

 caverns were also occupied by Choughs and Eock-Martins 

 (Cotyle rupestris), the latter sharing a cave with hundreds 

 of bats.*- 



* The Eock-Martins' nests were fixed under the roof and upper 

 ledges of the caves, not unlike Swallows'. Their eggs are white, 

 slightly flecked with grey. At the same date (May 18th) we also 

 obtained a nest of the Blue Rock-Thrush, with five beautiful greenish- 

 blue e»gs. The male, during the breeding-season, has a pretty habit 

 of towering up in the air, singing merrily, then falling back among 

 the rocks like a stone. 



