318 Unexplored Spain 
but in summer they are distributed along the whole of the 
“high tops” and are still maintaining their numbers as usual. 
We had cherished the hope of meeting with ptarmigan and 
other alpine forms in these high sierras, especially during our 
earlier expeditions after ibex. We are satisfied that ptarmigan 
at least do not exist, having seen no trace of them at any 
point; but we never saw the snow-finch either, and it is reported 
to exist in numbers. 
Oh! the wearying monotony of that long down-grade ride— 
the infinity of vast subrounded mountains, all alike, all ugly, 
all sprinkled rather than clad with low gorse and spiky broom, 
like millions of pincushions with all points outwards. Then the 
shale—the very earth seemed disintegrated. Red shale and blue, 
cinder-grey and lemon-yellow; some schistose and sparkling, 
the bulk dull and dead. Here and there, amid oceans of friable 
detritus, stand out great rocks of more durable substance—solitary 
pinnacles, towers and turrets of fantastic form. Six hours of this 
ere we reach the Vega of Granada. 
ORNITHOLOGY 
For ornithologists the following notes on birds observed and 
not already mentioned may here be inserted :— 
Blue and Rock-thrushes.—Neither abundant, but the former most so in the 
rock-gorges of lower Monachil, nesting in “ pot-holes” and horizontal crevices 
of the crags. The rock-thrush is more 
alpine and confined (here as elsewhere) 
exclusively to the higher sierra. 
Missel-thrushes among ilex-trees at 7000 
feet, apparently nesting: a few woodchats 
observed at same points. 
Blackstart.—Plentiful, though less so 
than on San Cristobal in Sierra de Jerez 
(5000 feet). A nest in the crag over- 
hanging our bathing-place in the burn at 
San Geronimo contained five eggs ou April 
28. We found others on Monachil, and 
ROCK-THRUSH grey wagtails were also breeding at both 
places. 
Bonelli’s Warbler.—Arrived, and preparing to nest, end of April: afew white- 
throats and rufous warblers early in May. Robins and wrens nesting, and 
nightingales abundant in lower river-valley. 
Eared and Black-throated Wheatear.—Ubiquitous but not abundant. In both 
these forms (as well as in the Common Wheatear) the males displayed a dual 
stage of plumage; some being completely adult, while others retained an im- 
mature state somewhat resembling their first dress (May). 
