In the Sierra Nevada 319 
Stonechat.—Four eggs, April 29. 
Blackchat and Crag-martin.—Both conspicuous by their absence. 
[This applies to the higher sierra—both were observed in the lower 
Monachil—say 4000 feet. | 
Ortolans (apparently just arriving during early days of May), with cirl and 
rock-buntings, were frequent up to the limits of scrub-growth, say 7500 feet. 
Rock-sparrow.—Breeding in crags on lower slopes. 
Woodlark.—Lower hills: young on wing, end April. 
Short-toed Lark.—Lower hills: about to nest here. 
Crested Lark.—Lower hills: common. 
Tawny Pipit.—Plentiful, scattered in pairs over the arid hills: males sing- 
ing tree-pipit fashion, soaring downwards with tail spread overhead. 
Great, Blue, and Cole-tits.—Common, the latter only among the open woods 
of pine ( Pinus pinaster). 
Raven and Chough.—A few. 
Hoopoe, Kestrel, and Little Owl.—A few. 
Partridge (vedleg).—Scarce : a pair and a single bird observed at 8000 feet 
among snow-patches and junipers. 
Chaffinches and Serins.—First broods on wing, end April; nests for second 
broods building early in May. 
Linnets.—Common up to scrub-limit. 
Dippers.—Observed on Genil, Darro, Monachil, and all the rivers visited. 
Pied Flycatcher—A male observed on migration, April 30. 
In the stupendous rock-gorges which enclose the lower course and outlet 
of Monachil (3500-5000 feet) are situate the breeding-places of the few 
griffon-vultures which inhabit this sierra. With them nest some Neophrons, 
and there is a “Choughery” at 4000 feet, while crag-martins and blackchats 
(not observed elsewhere), with many blue thrushes, find a congenial home 
among these giant crags. 
While lunching, our goat-herd guide was pointing out rock- 
crannies where wolves, from lack of brushwood, used to le up 
by day, and complaining that he could not keep poultry by reason 
of the marten-cats. Suddenly he broke out in shrill and altered 
tones: “Tell me, Caballero,” he exclaimed, “tell me why you 
come here from lands afar to suffer discomfort and hardship 
and to undergo all these labours—why do you do this?” We 
endeavoured to explain. ‘“ You see, Gregorio, that God created 
all manner of animals different one from another. So also He 
created mankind in many different races—all brothers, yet differ- 
ing as brothers do. You Spanish belong to the Latin race. 
You have many fine qualities, some of which we lack. But you 
rather concern yourselves with material things and disregard 
platonic study. We of British race are imbued with desire to 
learn all that can be traced of Nature and her ways. Some 
examine the earth itself, its formations and transformations ; 
others the birds or the beasts. There are those who devote 
