Lord Lilford on the Ornithology of Spain . 377 
XXX .—Notes on the Ornithology of Spain. 
By Lord Lilford, F.L.S., F.Z.S., &c. 
(Plate X.) 
[Concluded from p. 187.] 
We remained at Aranjuez till May 27th; but during the 
latter part of our stay I was unfortunately prevented by rheu¬ 
matic gout from taking a very active part in collecting. Manuel, 
however, was indefatigable, and I was occasionally able to drive 
out and take some small share in his proceedings. In the 
neighbourhood of Las Ynfantas, a guard-station and horse- 
breeding establishment about four miles from Aranjuez in the 
direction of Toledo, we found a good many interesting birds. 
The country about this spot consists of low hills totally unculti¬ 
vated, with here and there large flat or slightly undulating ex¬ 
panses, the whole covered with gum-cistus, rosemary, lavender, 
Spanish broom, several species of thyme, and many other low- 
growing shrubs, with an infinite variety of wild flowers. The 
railway runs parallel to the road from Aranjuez to Toledo, and 
separates the country just described from the marshy Soto on 
the banks of the Tagus, this Soto being in some parts under 
cultivation, and in others thickly wooded with common and 
white poplars, planes, oaks, willows, tamarisks, and so forth. 
The avenue along the road above mentioned is perhaps one of 
the finest in the world, and affords a congenial home to many 
species of birds. 
On May 9th I rode out to Las Ynfantas, where Manuel was 
established, and found that he had shot several Bock-Sparrows 
(Petronia stulta), which were breeding about the guard-house, 
and in the woodwork of an old aviary now empty, but formerly 
tenanted by Peafowls and Pheasants. On our way I observed 
a beautiful Hobby (Hypotriorchis suhbuteo), but could not get a 
shot at him; I shot a few Bee-eaters and a brilliantly-coloured 
Common Cuckoo. We were prevented by heavy showers from 
extending our researches to any great distance from the station ; 
but w~e managed to bag a Little Bustard (Otis tetrax), four 
Spotted Cuckoos, several couples of Quails, two good specimens 
of the Sardinian Starling (Sturnus unicolor ), and the only 
