384 Lord Lilford on the Ornitholoyy of Spain. 
I hear, the fauna of those provinces differs very considerably 
from that of the central districts, and of course still more from 
that of the Andalucias. I am told, on good authority, of pine- 
clad mountains whose fastnesses are tenanted by the bear, the 
lynx, and the Capercally, their summits offering a home to the 
chamois and the Ptarmigan, whilst lower down roe-deer, Wood¬ 
cocks, and our common Grey Partridge ( Perdix cinerea) in 
great numbers reward the armed explorers. Whilst on the 
subject of Partridges, I may here state that, with the one excep¬ 
tion mentioned below, I have never met with any Partridges 
in Spain but the common Red-legged species ( Caccabis rufa). 
The Barbary Partridge (C. petrosa) I saw only on the Rock of 
Gibraltar, whither it was introduced from the African coast; 
I have heard of its former occurrence in Murcia, but am assured 
that it is no longer to be met with in that province. The 
Grey Partridge is confined to the north; and I could not 
hear of the Bartavelle ( Caccabis saxatilis) in any part of the 
country,—my experience on this point entirely coinciding with 
that of Captain Cook-Widdrington (‘Sketches in Spain/ p.279). 
To return to my proceedings at Madrid: I went down once 
or twice more to the Casa de Campo, but without any great 
result, merely adding some very brilliant Golden Orioles to my 
collection, and having opportunities of watching the habits of 
that singular bird the Little Bittern ( Ardeola minuta ), which 
was breeding on the banks of the small lake in these grounds. 
Bee-eaters were committing great ravages amongst ManuePs 
bee-hives; and his chico, or servant lad, was busily engaged from 
daybreak till dark in shouting and firing to keep them away. 
The heat was now considerable, and had silenced most of the 
birds ; the change in this respect between my present and former 
rambles in these grounds was very remarkable. In April the 
call-note of the Scops-Owl, the thrilling music of CettPs 
Warblers, and Nightingales, the chuckle of the Red-legged 
Partridge, the incessant babble of the Great Sedge Warbler in 
the reeds, and a multitude of other bird-sounds enlivened these 
groves and glades; but now, with the exception of an occasional 
faint laugh from the Green Woodpecker, and the flute-like call 
of an “ Oropendola” (the Golden Oriole), hardly a sound of 
