BIBDS NESTING IN ANDALUSIA. 325 



in getting eggs from adjacent nests (April 20th, addled). There 

 was very little smell noticeable at their nests, which were neatly 

 made, and big enough to hold three of us at once. We also took 

 several clutches of Egyptian Vultures, and twice found them 

 nesting in company with Griffons. When sitting in their nesting- 

 caves in the face of the precipice, these immense birds appear to 

 be no larger than Starlings. 



We saw altogether three Bonelli's Eagles. One of these, while 

 flying near a griffonry, in which, though we did not see it, was 

 possibly its own eyrie, appearing to resent the near approach of 

 a Griffon, made a magnificent "stoop," and knocked it fairly 

 head over heels, though it soon recovered itself again. We were 

 shown, on April 5th, a nest in a tremendous "tajo," quite six 

 hundred feet in height, and very overhung. While some goat- 

 herds were pointing out the nest to us the Eagle left it, and flew 

 across the narrow gorge, giving us a fine view of it ; and from 

 another nest about a fortnight later we took the single egg by 

 means of a rope. This egg, which was addled, was long and 

 pointed, and faintly splashed with reddish markings. 



A nest was found of the Short- toed Eagle in a silver poplar, 

 containing two eggs — an unusual number, this Eagle generally 

 laying but one egg. 



The Booted Eagle we found very abundant, eight nests being 

 found in pine trees and poplars at the end of April and begin- 

 ning of May, containing one and two eggs, and in one case three 

 well-grown young. At one nest we obtained a photograph of the 

 bird itself, and noticed the curious note of this small but plucky 

 Eagle. At first I took it for the note of some unknown bird the 

 size of a Blackbird or Oriole, and what was my surprise to see 

 that it proceeded from a Booted Eagle which was sitting on the 

 ground not more than ten yards from my hiding-place. It 

 sounded like " kivi, kivi," rather wild and sweet, not at all what 

 you might expect for an Eagle. At another nest, while engaged 

 up the tree in manipulating a camera, and lashing the tripod to 

 a convenient branch, the bird flew in and settled close to, and 

 remained an instant or two before dashing out again with a 

 scream. There were two white eggs in this nest, which was 

 built in a stone-pine, and also half a young Rabbit. (A female 

 Booted Eagle shot was of a dark uniform brown colour all over, 



