Birds. 5605 



than an arid mountain. T do not of course mean to state positively 

 that the bird migrates, but simply that such is my impression. 



Gray Wagtail (Motacilla boarula). Arrived and took its departure 

 with M. alba. 



Of the Paridae I observed three, the blue titmouse [Paras caruleus), 

 great titmouse (Parus major) and the cole titmouse (Parus ater) ; the 

 latter by no means numerous, the two former abundant. 



Meadow Pipit (Anthus pratensis). Occasionally met with. 



Skylark {Alauda arvensis). Very common, congregating in large 

 flocks during winter, as in this country. 



Crested Lark [Alauda crislata). Was also numerous. 



Calandra Lark {Alauda calaudra). Arrived in spring, and re- 

 mained to breed ; it was very numerous. 



Common Bunting (Emberiza miliaria). Very abundant, more so, 

 however, towards spring, from which I conclude that it is partially 

 migratory. 



Chaffinch {Fringilla ccelebs). Common, and very numerous every- 

 where. 



House Sparrow (Fringilla domestica). Common, and as fond of 

 and confiding in man as its family is in this country. 



Greenfinch (Fringilla chloris). Very plentiful in the spring; occa- 

 sionally seen during the winter. I fancy that many of the birds of 

 this province, although not wholly migratory, cross the Straits of 

 Gibraltar in winter (which would not take more than a quarter of an 

 hour at most), and thus enable themselves to enjoy whatever climate 

 they like : by travelling a few hundred miles they can enjoy the snows 

 of Algeria or the burning suns of the interior. Immense numbers of 

 these birds are taken annually with bird-lime, with the goldfinch 

 {Fringilla cardtielis) and siskin {Fringilla spinus), and exposed for 

 sale in the shops of Gibraltar, the Spaniards being extremely fond of 

 pets, almost every house having one or other of these birds hanging in 

 a cage outside the window. 



Linnet (Fringilla cannabina). Plentiful during the spring, when 

 it is gregarious. 



Wryneck {Yunx iorquilla). I saw this bird, for the first time, 

 exposed for sale in the Gibraltar market, together with numbers of 

 greenfinches and other small birds. Almost every kind of bird seems 

 to be considered good eating in Spain, and perpetually in season, if 

 one may judge from appearances. I saw, at the latter end of May, 

 quails, turtle doves and partridges (although they must then have been 

 in the midst of their domestic duties) exposed for sale in the market 

 of Cadiz, in considerable numbers. 



