5312 Birds. 



Ornithology of Andalusia. By Captain Watkins. 



Having read with great interest the Rev. W. T. Bree's and the 

 Rev. A. C. Smith's accounts of the Natural History of Switzerland, 

 I venture to send the following imperfect account of the Ornithology 

 of Andalusia, a province particularly rich in birds, from its proximity 

 to Africa, hoping that some may find pleasure in reading it. I am 

 myself much interested in Natural History, and have a goodly collec- 

 tion of birds, British and European, as also some flve-and-twenty 

 cases of American birds, obtained during three years' service with my 

 regiment in Nova Scotia. I merely send a list of a few of the birds 

 observed in the province, of most of which I was able to obtain 

 specimens, and have now the pleasure of seeing them stuffed in my 

 collection, recalling many pleasant scenes and happy hours spent in 

 the wild and lovely province of Andalusia. 



Common Vulture (Vitltur fulvus). This magnificent and useful 

 bird forms a striking feature in the Ornithology of this part of Spain : 

 in the neighbourhood of Gibraltar they are very numerous, being seen 

 at times in large flocks of from twenty-five to fifty, particularly where 

 there is anything in the shape of a dead horse or cow in a state of de- 

 composition. These birds form the scavengers of the country, and 

 indeed of almost all hot climates ; and when one views them soaring, 

 with outspread wings, through the air, at times ascending until their 

 large size appears no larger than a small hawk, and then descending 

 in large circles until within gun-shot of the ground, knowing full well 

 that their keen sense of smelling is guiding them unerringly to the 

 spot where a savoury meal awaits them, one cannot but acknowledge 

 the infinite wisdom of the Almighty, who has formed these birds, as 

 well as every other living creature, each in its own sphere to be of 

 service to man. I had the good luck to shoot a splendid specimen of 

 this bird when out boar-hunting in the cork wood, bringing him down 

 from a great height with a heavy charge of buck-shot : he was, when 

 killed, I must own, a most repulsive-looking object (having lately 

 breakfasted), a most offensive smell bearing ample testimony that he 

 had not failed to do his part towards ridding the country of offensive 

 matter. The wild and beautiful scenery of this part of Spain adds in 

 no small degree to the pleasure of the Ornithologist. Who does not 

 feel a thrill of pleasure as he views, for the first time, a strange bird, 

 or recognizes an old acquaintance in some well-known bird of his own 



