322 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



stamped out of existence by the cattle in their thirst seeking the 

 last drop of moisture ; there were also some in the neighbour- 

 hood of the Laguna de la Janda, but it was too early then for 

 them to be nesting ; indeed, I doubt whether they ever do nest 

 there. In this last locality we saw two or three pairs of 

 Cranes, which from their behaviour seemed to be about to 

 nest, but we left before they had begun to do so (April 21st). 

 There were also some flocks of Whiskered Terns, and many 

 Marsh-Harriers and White Storks, with a few Purple Herons 

 and Mallards. 



In the plains, which in April were ablaze with colour from 

 the many wild flowers which are such a conspicuous feature of 

 the Spanish spring-time, perhaps the most common bird was 

 the Corn-Bunting, of which we found many nests on the ground, 

 generally at the foot of a tall plant somewhat like a lily. The 

 Stonechat was also nesting in similar situations. The Calandra 

 Lark and Crested Lark were also very common, and we found 

 nests of both species. On the topmost twigs of the bushes sat 

 numbers of Woodchats, their chestnut heads looking almost 

 blood-red in the sunshine. Their nests,, like those of the Grey 

 Shrike {Lanius meridionalis) , were always made of some whitish - 

 coloured twigs, and were rather loosely constructed. In one 

 locality we found several in the trees of a large orange orchard, 

 as also many nests of Goldfinches, and one of an Orphean 

 Warbler. Both Goldfinches and Serins are exceedingly nume- 

 rous. Blackbirds were fairly common, and we saw several nests ; 

 but the Song-Thrush is, I believe, a winter visitor only. We 

 only saw two, one as late as the end of April. The Blue Bock- 

 Thrush was seen at Gibraltar, and invariably whenever we were 

 among rocks. 



The first Bee-eater was seen fiom the train on March 30th, 

 an early date for it ; their first appearance in numbers was on 

 April 15th, on which day the telegraph-wire was crowded with 

 them. Nightingales were heard on April 13th, Turtle-Doves 

 April 19th, and Cuckoo April 13th. House-Martins were build- 

 ing on March 30th. Many Crag-Martins, Lesser Kestrels, and 

 Pallid Swifts were seen at Bonda on March 31st. A Hoopoe 

 was noticed on March 30th. Black Chats were beginning to 

 nest at Bonda on April 3rd. White Storks were observed on 



