Spring-time in the Marismas 391 
[Norr.—Referring to the last sentence, our companion, Commander H. 
Lynes, R. N., writes :—‘ All the gulls I saw on Santolalla I am positive 
were L. ridibundus, and I looked most carefully. The wing-pattern of 
melanocephalus is very distinct. With the latter I became quite familiar in 
the Mediterranean in winter, and also saw them in late summer at Smyrna.” 
We, nevertheless, leave our own record as above, being confident that such 
gulls as happened to come within our own view were exclusively of the 
southern species, with its darker and deeper hood. But the occurrence 
of our British Black-headed Gull so far south in mid-May is also 
remarkable. That species, though abundant all winter, has disappeared, 
as a rule, by the end of March. Onr own last note of observing it 
during the spring in question was on April 1. We may add a further 
note of having observed both species (swimming alongside) on Guadal- 
quivir, March 12, 1909. The distinction, alike in the depth and darker 
shade of the “ hood” in LZ. melanocephalus, was unmistakable, even to naked 
eye. | 
This dry spring not a spoonbill nested in Andalucia. The 
teeming pajaréras, or heronries, at the Rocina de la Madre and 
in Dofiana were left lifeless and abandoned. In normal years 
these are tenanted (as shown in photo at p. 32) by countless 
multitudes of buff-backed, squacco, and night-herons, glossy ibis, 
some purple herons, and a few pairs of spoonbills, whose massed 
nests fairly weigh down the marsh-girt tamarisks. 
ORPHEAN WARBLER (Sylvia orphec) 
Arrives end of April ; hardly so brilliant a songster as its specific title would import. 
