182 
Lord Lilford on the Ornithology of Spain. 
cess, as the Hoopoes, Green Woodpeckers, and Titmice, of which 
we saw great numbers, had not apparently yet begun to lay. 
Great numbers of the Spanish Sparrows, Passer salicicolus , were 
building in the plane trees; and Woodchats, Pied Flycatchers, 
Goldfinches, Serins, and Nightingales in profusion enlivened 
the roadsides. Not even in Epirus have I heard so many of 
this last species; and I was glad to hear that the “ Ruisehor ” 
as the Spaniards call this delightful bird, is protected by special 
order of Her Catholic Majesty, who is repaid by a nightly 
serenade immediately under her palace-windows, such as not 
even the most skilled of her music-loving subjects can give her. 
We procured some more specimens of the little Scops Owl, and 
heard the fine clear note of the Golden Oriole, Oriolus galhula 
(in Spanish “ Oropendola >> ) ) which was then beginning to arrive 
in the country. A man at work in a field informed us that 
there was a nest of “ Milano Milvus ictinus, in a lofty stone- 
pine at some distance from the spot where we met him; and 
sure enough, on approaching the tree he pointed out, we could 
descry the nest and the tail of the Kite projecting therefrom. 
Manuel was anxious to secure the bird, as he received a reward 
of sixteen rials, between three and four shillings, for every 
animal danino (noxious animal) which he brought in to the 
Administrador. We accordingly approached the tree, cautiously, 
from opposite directions, and I killed the bird as she slipped 
quietly off the nest on my side. The nest was nearly at the top 
of the tree, which shot up without a branch for at least 
seventy feet, and was far too bulky to admit of swarming.” 
Two urchins, who had watched our proceedings, declared that 
there was only one man in Aranjuez who could get to the nest, 
and that their father was that man. We accordingly despatched 
them to fetch him, and in the mean time shot many specimens 
of Passer salicicolus , of which bird great numbers were nesting 
in the thick branches of the pine over our heads, and some 
actually in the foundation of the Kite^s nest itself. A bird, 
which I at once identified as a Short-toed Eagle, Circaetus 
gallicuSj sailed by, but out of shot, and the male Kite kept 
soaring in circles far above us. In a very short time the boys 
returned with their father, a fine specimen of the Castilian 
