264 



WILD SPAIN. 



peckers miles away from trees— they were attracted thither 

 by the swarms of ants. Nightjars (Caprimulgus europceus) 

 and Little Owls also abode there ; the latter fluttered out 

 from under one's feet, and after a most un-owlish, up-and- 

 down flight, would dive back under some big boulder, more 

 like a fish than a bird. Small nights of Teal also resorted 

 to these heights during the day, sitting among the heather, 

 and returning to the marshes at night. 



Food op Spanish Raptoeial Bieds — Analyses of ex- 

 aminations of their crops — as follows : — 



(See p. 259.) 

 Kites examined, 21. 



Snakes, Lizards, Blindworms, &c. . . .9 cases. 



Locusts, elytra of coleoptera, &c. 9 „ 



Bones and remains of small birds . . . 5 ,, 



Rabbits and young Eedlegs (1 each) . . 2 ,, 



Egg-shells „ 



Note. — We have shot Black Kites fairly crammed with 

 Locusts. 



Haebiebs examined, 17. 



Frogs, Snakes and other reptiles . . .8 cases. 



Egg-shells 7 ,, 



Scorpions, coleoptera and other insects . . 3 „ 

 Game (1 Quail, 1 young and 1 putrid rabbit) . 3 ,, 



The Marsh- Harrier in spring seeks frogs, eggs, and young 

 birds ; in winter, frogs, wounded birds, and chance reptiles. 



Montagu's Harrier takes chiefly the lesser reptiles and eggs 

 — occasionally rabbits — and departs entirely in -winter. 



