Birds. 5313 



dear island, amidst scenery which few — and certainly no naturalist — 

 can contemplate without wonder and awe. 



Egyptian Vulture (Vultur percnopterus). Occurs sparingly in this 

 province. I have only seen two or three of these birds, and those 

 alone. I know not whether it is gregarious where it is found in 

 plenty, but here it seems a lover of solitude. 



Merlin (Falco (BsalonJ. This beautiful little hawk appears to be 

 rare in this part of Spain : I have only once or twice observed it. 



Kestrel (Falco Tiniuin cuius) and the Little Kestrel (Falco Tln- 

 mmculoides). Occur in great numbers : the latter is a most 

 interesting little bird to watch. The north front of Gibraltar (where 

 they breed) and the Neutral Ground between the British and Spanish 

 lines, is in early spring swarming with this pretty little hawk, and it is 

 most amusing to watch it hawking for locusts, which, I fancy, form a 

 considerable part of its food : twenty or thirty together may be seen 

 hovering a yard or two from the ground, and then settling to feast upon 

 the locusts, which abound on the neutral ground. This province is 

 most rich in Entomology : as early as the beginning of February the 

 mountain-sides were enlivened by numerous Lepidoptera — Colias 

 Edusa, Papilio Machaon, Gonepteryx Rhamni and Cleopatra, Pieris 

 Daplidice, and many others flitting about in great profusion : the 

 curious (and in Africa, I believe, still sacred) Mantis religiosa 

 occurs also plentifully : a beautiful species of Saturnia is also very 

 abundant. 



Common Kite (Falco milvus) and Black Kite (Falco aterj are 

 both plentiful. I possess one of each of these birds alive, which I 

 brought with me from Seville : the black kite, the landlord of the 

 "Forida Europa" assured me, was taken in the year 1855 from a nest 

 in one of the domes of the cathedral. These birds, in their present 

 domestic state, have a great penchant for vegetables and fruit. 1 have 

 watched them often and often in my kitchen-garden plucking the pods 

 of peas, and eating the contents : a bed of radishes also (which I was 

 at a loss to conceive what had demolished) I one morning found 

 occupied by my two pets, eagerly devouring them : they could not 

 have been driven to it by hunger, as they were well supplied with 

 birds and young rabbits. Since the figs and peaches have been ripe 

 they have indulged most freely in their taste for fruit, nothing pleasing 

 them better than a fig. I consider the fact of these birds feeding on 

 vegetable matter worthy of note : other and far better ornithologists 

 than myself will probably know whether similar instances are on 

 record. 



XIV. 3 D 



