Spring-time in the Marismas 389 
(another or two hard by), were about five feet above water-level, 
and contained three, three, and four pale-blue eggs. While circling 
around their nests, the old herons showed a conspicuous projection 
beneath their curved necks. We therefore shot one and found 
the effect was caused by a curious “kink” or bony process on 
the front of the upper neck—as sketched. 
Of other birds observed at this Laguna de Terajes may be 
noted a few mallard and marbled ducks, a pair of squacco herons 
(not breeding), common sandpipers (on May 8), and a party of 
whiskered terns which arrived while we were there. 
The day we had spent among the marsh-birds at this 
sequestered lagoon happened to be the day of the general 
election and the usual excitement prevailed. Yet, as we 
journeyed down by the early 
train, we had read in the 
morning’s paper this para- 
graph: “ An understanding” 
[Inteligencoa | — “ Yesterday 
an understanding was arrived 
at in Madrid between Maura 
and Cafialejas, by which the 
former is to hold 225 seats.” Why, after that, bother further 
with an election? ‘Twill serve as an object-lesson at home. 
Another phenomenon of the Spanish marismas is the through- 
transit in May of that little group of world-wanderers that make 
a winter-home in the southern hemisphere—in South Africa and 
Madagascar, Australia, New Zealand, some even in Patagonia— 
and yet return each spring to summer in Arctic regions. ‘These 
comprise, notably, but four species, and not one of these four, in 
our view, is excelled for perfect beauty of bright, chaste, and 
contrasted coloration by any other bird-form on earth. This 
quartette is composed of the grey plover, knot, curlew-sandpiper, 
and bartailed godwit—all four of which appear here in thousands 
every May, and all in summer dress. 
Note, first, that these do not arrive in Spain (having come 
6000 or 8000 miles but being still 2000 or 3000 miles short of 
their final destination) until long after all other birds—including 
several congeneric and closely related species—have already laid 
their eggs and many hatched their young. Also, secondly, that 
some of them begin to assume their spring breeding-plumage 
PURPLE HERON (Ardea purpurea) 
