THROUGH WILD EUROPE 15 



One journey into Spain in 1897, and the ex- 

 periences with marsh birds there met with, had 

 imbued me with a love of that captivating country, 

 and a great desire to see more of it and its people. 

 I believe the usual thing for everybody who has 

 once visited Spain is never to be content until he 

 has been again and yet again. Certainly for the 

 naturalist there is hardly a richer field in Europe. 

 For, as will be seen from its position on the map, it 

 lies right in the track of the chief migratory route 

 by which birds passing up from the African con- 

 tinent reach their breeding- places in Northern 

 Europe, and its close propinquity to that great 

 continent induces others, which otherwise would 

 not be included among the list of European birds 

 at all, to cross the straits at Gibraltar. 



After an interesting but uneventful journey we 

 duly arrived at Ronda, our first destination, and 

 found very comfortable quarters at the fonda over 

 the railway station. 



We had hardly been in the place an hour, and 

 were on our first tour of inspection into the country 

 round the town, when we saw our first Griffon. 

 The great bird came sailing along just over our 

 heads before we had gone half a mile, almost within 

 pistol-shot. It was the first I had seen in a wild 

 state ; but though I have been able to observe 

 hundreds since then, I do not think I have ever 



