BRALTAR
/HOWARD IRBY, F.L.S.
BIOLOGY LIBRARY
THE ATHENJEUM
N° 3595, SEPT. 19, '96 SCIENCE
The Ornithology of the Straits of Gibraltar.
By Lieut. - Col. L. Howard L. Irby.
Second Edition. (Porter.) UNDER the above title, rather more than twenty years ago, Col. Irby produced a modest little octavo volume which at once secured a high position in ornithological literature. It treated of the natural history of the north - western portion of Morocco, from Tangier southwards to a little beyond Larache, and for about twelve miles inland, beyond which excursions were in those days difficult, not to say dangerous ; while on the Spanish side the area embraced was far wider, comprising the country between Cadiz, Gibraltar, Malaga, Granada, Cordova, Seville, and down the Guadalquivir to the great marshy delta of that river. Birds, their habits and nidification, with the dates of arrival and departure in the case of migrants — the results of several years' experience — formed the principal feature; but there was a great deal of valuable information about mammals, reptiles, and other subjects in the work, and it became a handbook for the naturalist traveller in the South as much as the book of reference for the student at home. Almost coincidently with its publication Col. Irby retired from the 74th Highlanders, but he by no means forgot the fascinating country with which his name will always be identified, and he subsequently devoted considerable portions of the next twenty years to revisiting his former haunts as well as exploring new districts. In doing this he consorted with, and availed himself of the experience of, many kindred spirits, such as Major Wil- loughby Yerner (one of the most daring of
cragsmen), Capt. E. Savile Eeid, late E.E., Mr. A. C. Stark, and" others, wnose notes are now added to his own. The result is that, instead of the little octavo of 1875, we have a handsome quarto, with beautiful coloured jpjates in_Mr_A. Thorburn's best style from birds living in Lord LilforaTs'^avTaries'near Oundle, as well as numerous illustrations of scenery from sketches and photographs. Much new and valuable information has been added, and the list of birds is raised from 335 to 369, while a feature of the pre- sent volume is the short diagnosis of each species on the lines adopted by the author in his useful • Key to British Birds,' which was noticed in these columns some time ago. Two maps and, it is almost unneces- sary to say, an adequate index are to be found in both editions.
Owing to its position in close proximity \ to Africa, Spain — or let us say the Iberian ~ Peninsula, to avoid offence to our Portuguese friends — is probably the most interesting country in Europe as regards its fauna. In the south, which immediately concerns us, there is an ichneumon (Herpestes) almost, if not absolutely, identical with the Numidian species ; the lynx is peculiar, and has just a flavour of the African serval ; the red deer of the north comes down to the pine- clad shores of the Mediterranean, while the ibex from the mountain ledges looks down upon its blue waters — and there they stop ; there is no sign of them in North Africa. As for the bear, there is no trace of it in historic times to the south of Madrid, while the chamois (izard) is not found below the Pyrenees and the Cantabrian range ; but otherwise the main continental fauna is well represented. Even among birds, in spite of their powers of flight, there are some re- markable features and irregularities in dis- tribution. There is an indigenous Iberian short-toed lark, quite different from the ordinary species of the rest of Europe, though barely distinguishable from an inhabitant of North Africa ; there is a larger lark with a decurved bill belonging to an African, and almost a Saharan, group ; the Iberian green woodpecker differs from, that of all the rest of Europe ; and there is a fine white-shouldered eagle, the repre- sentative of the Eastern imperial eagle, which is barely known this side of Italy. For the nearest relative of the beautiful Iberian azure - winged magpie ( Cyanopica cooki} all Europe and the greater part of Asia must be crossed, until South- Eastern Siberia and China are reached. Our familiar pie is found throughout Spain down to the woods of the Guadalquivir; but in the mountainous districts of the Alpuj arras and on the skirts of the Sierra Nevada the magpies become dark, and exhibit decided affinities with a North African species. The Spanish grey shrike is virtually confined to the Peninsula, where its range extends to the extreme southern shores ; yet the bird never crosses the in- tervening ten or twelve miles to Africa, nor does its representative there — a species which only a naturalist can distinguish —
ever invade Spain. An orange - eating bulbul (Pycnonotus) is found at Tangier, but never crosses the Straits to the land which is said to be "famous for oranges and pretty women." The buff - backed heron (the representative of the Eastern
"paddy-bird") breeds freely in the south of Spain, but the rest of Europe hardly knows it,' even in swamps apparently the most suitable, and to find it again we must visit North Africa. The little three- toed quail is another African species found breeding locally in the palmetto (Chamserops) scrub of Andalucia, and also near Grirgenti, where Sicily is almost in sight of Tunisia ; nowhere else in Europe. These are only a few of the points which occur to us, and it may be imagined that the natural history of a country which presents these paradoxes is worth writing about.
In a book which deals with facts set down in the most straightforward manner it is not easy to find passages suitable for quota- tion, for even Major Verner's feats on the cliffs and his narrow escapes when visiting the nests of eagles and vultures are not fully described here. The nests were in such and such a place, of such materials, and contained so many eggs on such a date ; but there is nothing to make your flesh creep. We notice that the experiences of all the contributors to this work are to the effect that the bearded vulture — often called Liimmergeier — is simply a scavenger, and never attempts to touch kids, lambs, or indeed any living mammal. It is much if the maligned bird occasionally takes a snake or a lizard, though it certainly does pick up small tortoises (as it does bones) and drop them on the rocks to break them : a per- formance which is said to have caused the death of /Eschylus, and the tradition of which once saved the life of a bearded vulture. Turning to smaller birds, there is a novel and interesting description of the nesting habits of the handsome black wheatear, a lively sooty bird with a white rump, which is locally known as pedrero, from its habit of building founda- tions of small stones, and even a wall or screen in front of its nest. One of these barriers — of which an illustration is given — was 9 in. long, the same in width, 2£ in. high, and consisted of 282 stones, while the foundation contained 76 more, the total weight of the stones being 4£lb. Then there are some valuable bits of in- formation respecting the names of birds, illustrating Arab superstitions, as in the passage referring to the white owl — which is too long to quote — and that on the lap- wing. We always wondered why the latter bore the trivial name Judia in Spain (El Thudi in Morocco), but it appears that " the superstitious Arabs believe that these birds are Jews changed into the shape of birds, and also believe that they retain all their Israelitish characteristics, even wear- ing the black Hebrew skull-cap." And with this we close our notice, having, we trust, said enough to show that a book, although technical, is not necessarily dry.
BEARDED VULTURE. Gypaetus barbatus. ad.
Litho. W. Greve, Berlin.
ORN ITHOLO
OF THE
STEAITS OF GIBRALTAR
LIEUT.-COLONEL L. HOWABD L. IEBY, F.L.S.,
LATE 8EVKNTY-FCHRTH HIGHLANDERS.
SECOND EDITION,
D ESLAE
AN
THE
ORNITHOLOGY
OF THE
STBAITS OF GIBRALTAR
BY
LIEUT.-COLONEL L. HOWARD L. IRBY, F.L.S.,
//
LATE SF.VENTY-FOt'RTH HIGHLANDERS.
SECOND EDITION,
REVISED AND ENLARGED.
WITH AN APPENDIX
COKTAIKIKG A LIST OF THE LEPIDOPTEEA OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
FLUMINA AMO SYLVASQUE INGLORIUS.
LONDON:
R. H. PORTER,
18 PRINCES STREET, CAVENDISH SQUARE.
1895.
PRINTED BY TAYLOR AND FRANCIS,
RED LION COURT, FLEET STREET.
CONTENTS.
Page
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS v
INTRODUCTION
APPENDIX 311
INDEX TO BIRDS
811998
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
FULL-PAGE PLATES.
Page
Bearded Vulture. Thorburn Frontispiece
Blue-winged Magpie. Thorburn To face 83
Black or Cinereous * Vulture. Thorburn „ 146
Golden Eagle. Thorburn „ 171
White-shouldered Eagle. Thorburn * „ 173
Descent to Nest of Bonelli's Eagle. Smit, after Verner • • 175
Interior of Cavern with Nest of Bonelli's Eagle. Smit, after Verner .... „ 177
Booted Eagle. Thorburn „ 181
Mediterranean Peregrine. Thorburn „ 191
The First Rise of the Grey-lags, Laguna de la Janda. Smit, after
Verner „ 217
European Bush-Quail. Thorburn „ . 241
Bustard-Driving. Smit, after Verner „ 255
A Deep Place in the Malabrigo Soto. Smit, after W. F. , 279
Whiskered Terns at Home. Smit, after Verner „ 293
ILLTTSTHATIONS PRINTED IN THE TEXT.
NOTE
THE Illustrations printed in the text (excepting the two diagrams of Bird) are from photographs taken by Major Willoughby Verner, Rifle Brigade, of places visited by the Author in 1894.
,.. r > HTTTne enu or voitnne.
Map of Morocco \
* Misspelt " Ciiierous '' on Plate.
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
FULL-PAGE PLATES.
Page
Bearded Vulture. Thorburn Frontispiece
Blue-winged Magpie. Thorburn To face 83
Black or Cinereous * Vulture. Thorburn „ 145
Golden Eagle. Thorburn „ 171
White-shouldered Eagle. Thorburn ^ „ 173
Descent to Nest of Bonelli's Eagle. Smit, after Verner „ 175
Interior of Cavern with Nest of Bonelli's Eagle. Smit, after Verner .... „ 177
Booted Eagle. Thorburn „ 181
Mediterranean Peregrine. Thorburn „ 191
The First Kise of the Grey-lags, Laguna de la Janda. Smit, after
Verner „ 217
European Bush-Quail. Thorburn „ 241
Bustard-Driving. Smit, after Verner „ 255
A Deep Place in the Malabrigo Soto. Smit, after W. F. „ 279
Whiskered Terns at Home. Smit, after Verner „ 293
ILLUSTEATIONS PBINTED IN THE TEXT.
Diagram of Bird vi
Diagram of Inner side of Wing vii
Terrace on the north side of San Bartolome" 28
El Organo, near Tarifa 30
Peasantry, Tapatanilla 32
Laja del Ciscar 33
Nest of the Black Wheatear 42
Nest and Egg of Griffon 148
Cave with Griffons' Nests 150
Young Griffon in Cavern 150
Nest of Neophron, showing Crag 153
„ „ nearer View 153
Nesting-place of Neophron 155
Nest of Bearded Vulture 157
v » „ 160
„ „ „ near View 160
Nest of White-shouldered Eagle 172
Laja de la Zarga, Nesting-place of Bonelli's Eagle and Griffons 176
Nest of Snake-Eagle in Cork-tree 183
Another Nest of Snake-Eagle in Cork-tree 183
Laja del Ciscar 310
Map of South-western Andalucia 1 at the end of Volume.
Map of Morocco . ,
Misspelt " Cinerous " on Plate.
Lores Ear-fouerts
\ Forehead ',
\ roreneaa » f "*•
\ I ...I./ ."""
v-j-evow/.^/^--..^
\i— *~~~~>/' "x
..Nape
.Upper Back
Lower Bach
Diagram, of a Bird,
TO ILLUSTRATE THE TEKMINOLOGY OF THE PLUMAGE.
ORNITHOLOGY
OF THE
STRAITS OF GIBRALTAR.
INTRODUCTION.
THE list of birds and ornithological notes contained in this book are compiled from observations made on both sides of the Straits of Gibraltar — on the African side within a region extending from Tangier southwards to the lakes of Has el Doura, beyond Larache, and eastward from Tangier to Tetuan and Ceuta, not reaching inland more than ten or twelve miles ; on the European side is included that part of Andalucia which would be bounded by an imaginary line drawn from Gibraltar to Malaga, thence to Granada, Cordova, and Seville, along the delta of the Guadalquivir to Cadiz.
Nearly all the information relating to the birds of the Spanish side of the Straits is collected from personal observations made during a more or less prolonged stay at the Rock, between February 1868 and May 1872, and again from February to May 1874, but including during this time only one summer period, viz. July, August, and the first half of September. For the first three years of my residence at Gibraltar I was quartered with my regiment, the remaining time being passed
B
2 INTRODUCTION.
there chiefly with a view to ornithological pursuits, from time to time making excursions, generally of about a fortnight's duration, to some part or other within the districts above mentioned, but chiefly confining my attentions jto the country within a day's journey of Gibraltar.
The observations on the Moorish birds are in a great measure culled from the MS. of the late M. F. Favier, a French collector well known to the ornithological world, who, after a residence
** * *
•£•„• of about thirty-one years at Tangier, died there in 1867. I "; was informed that he had left a MS. written in French, containing his notes on birds ; but was not permitted by the owner to do more than glance at it, although he offered it for sale at what seemed to me a very exorbitant price. Fearing to lose a book which might prove of considerable utility in the pursuit of my favourite science, I yielded to his demands and secured the coveted prize, but found upon perusal, amidst a mass of bad grammar, bad spelling, and worse writing, which cost many hours to decipher, that it did not contain so much information as there was reason to anticipate, a good deal of the matter having been copied from other authors.
However, there was some grain among all this chaff; and such facts and details as are considered worth recording are given below with Favier's name attached, and supplemented by my own observations in Morocco. These notes are kept separate from those referring to the Spanish side of the Straits.
This little work is, it may be distinctly understood, not intended to give any special information to scientific ornitho- logists, but is published with the view of assisting with trust- worthy information any amateur collectors who visit South- western Europe ; and it is hoped especially that it may be useful to officers who, like the \vriter, may find themselves quartered at Gibraltar. For it admits of little doubt that the study of Natural History will always help to pass away with pleasure many hours that would otherwise be weary and tedious
LITERATUKE. 3
during the time military men may have to " put in " at dear, scorching old " Gib."
There is ample room, for any one with energy, to work out a great deal more information on the birds of the Straits ; but it must be remembered that little can be done in hasty visits of two or three months, or by comparing skins secured by assistants, called " collectors," who know nothing of the habits of the birds they send to those who employ them, and upon whose veracity even as to locality the employer cannot implicitly depend.
It may be as well to notice such papers &c. as have been published hitherto relating to the ornithology of the district of the Straits. Dismissing the Spanish lists as meagre and full of errors, we commence with the papers written by Lord Lilford in 'The Ibis' for 1865 (p. 166) and 1866 (pp. 173 & 377). In addition to the interesting facts they contain, these essays are the first which give any reliable information on the subject, and lay, as it were, the foundation of all the work that has since been done with regard to Spanish ornithology.
Since then Mr. Howard Saunders has written, also in ' The Ibis' (1871, pp. 54, 205, & 384), a " List of the Birds of Southern Spain," extending as far eastward as Minorca and as far to the north as the fortieth degree of latitude, thus comprising a very large area. He has also contributed some other papers to 'The Ibis' (1869, pp. 170 & 391), which, altered and considerably enlarged, have appeared in ' The Field ' under the head of " Ornithological Kambles in Southern Spain."
On the African side, Mr. G. W. H. Drummond Hay (Proceedings Zool. Society, 1840, p. 133) gave a list of birds noticed by him at Tangier, but only fifty-five in number, while Mr. Tyrwhitt-Drake wrote a list of the birds observed by him in Tangier and Eastern Morocco (Ibis, 1867, p. 421) ; and a " List of Birds seen near Tangier " appeared in ' Naumannia, but only a list, and not a very accurate one.
B2
4 INTRODUCTION.
Lists of birds, generally speaking, have very few dates appended; the exact localities where a species may be found are seldom indicated ; the period.- of migration is also not often stated. "Breeds plentifully," " appears in winter," "a regular visitant," " abundant in spring," — such are usually the vague remarks given with each species.
Many of the ornithological papers in periodicals and journals are written up from one or two passing visits, often very short ones ; and some of the writers possess a power of vision truly astonishing. They see a bird in the distance, imagine it to belong to a certain species, at last believe it to be such, and end by placing the name in their note-book, to appear in due time in print.
The only way to avoid such errors is never to include any bird in a list except when actually obtained and identified. It often happens, also, that the bird seen and included is one which it would be quite impossible to distinguish from another closely allied species without handling them both.
These remarks may, no doubt, appear very invidious ; but it is want of accuracy in such matters which renders utterly futile any attempt to make out the distribution of birds.
Local names, often trivial and unimportant, must generally be accepted cum grano salis ; for, unless long resident and conversant with the language of the country, the compiler is apt to fall into the same class of errors as those of the celebrated Count Smorltork, who would probably have written the English name of the Curlew according to the story told of a gunner in the Eastern Counties, who, when asked by a portly old citizen, " What do you call those birds I " replied, " Bless you, Curlews we generally calls 'em ; but when we're vexed with 'em, we calls 'em beggars." These vernacular names are most useful, of course, in the case of the more common species, and in Andalucia are, in many instances, of Arabic derivation, relics of the Moorish occupation and of days when under their
VERNACULAR NAMES. 5
rule Spain was flourishing, when all that is 'worth seeing was built, all that is artificially good being remnants of the work of the then industrious Moors. Where are the latter now as a nation 1
As a proof of the inaccuracy of local nomenclature, a single name is often applied to several species, sometimes not even belonging to the same genus. Thus Aguila, Aguiluclio, according to the ideas of the individual, may be any of the Diurnal Accipitres, from a Lammergeyer to a Lesser Kestrel ; and they are even occasionally used to designate the Raven ! !
So Bvjo applies to all Owls, Culiblanco to all Wheatears ; Chorlito, the real name of the Golden Plover, is used for various Waders ; while Pitillo, Frailecillo, Andarios, Correrios are indefinite names applicable to any small Waders and some larger ones. Pito real near Gibraltar is Picas major, our Great Spotted Woodpecker ; near Seville it is Gecinus Sharpti, the representative of our English Green Woodpecker ( G. viridis). Carpintero in Central Spain, according to Lord Lilford, is Picus major ; near Gibraltar it is the Great Titmouse (Parus major]. Lavandera, or " washerwoman," according to localities is either a Wagtail or a Green Sandpiper. Quebrantahuesos, " bone-breaker," properly applies to the Lammergeyer ; but where that species is absent it is usurped by the Neophron.
These, among other instances, prove local names to be only an assistance, and not always to be taken to signify the bird to which they are affixed.
On the other hand, some names are distinctive, as Alejaruco, Bee-eater ; Abubilla, Hoopoe ; Abujeta, Godwit ; Alcaravan, Stone-Curlew, &c.
The Moorish Arabic names are for the most part copied from Favier's MS. ; but none are quoted unless corroborated by reference to natives of the localities in which the birds were shot. It may be further added that, as it is a matter of considerable difficulty to express Arabic words by English
6 . INTRODUCTION.
letters, in this work a mere approximation to the sound is attempted to be given.
In the interest of the sportsman and the amateur collector of specimens, it has been endeavoured to give a few hints as to the localities where each may best gratify his tastes ; but it would be foreign to the purpose and inapplicable to the limits of this work to reproduce any of the varied information which is to be found in the pages of Ford and other guide- books. In the country districts of Spain, and especially throughout Andalucia, nothing ever changes except the Government. The country is still the Spain of Ford, we might almost say of Don Quixote, and will probably remain so for centuries, except as regards the power of the priesthood, which is gradually waning and will doubtless soon cease to exist.
In a general sense, travelling in Morocco is attended with more expense and less comfort than in Spain. The total absence of inns in the former country (except one or two at Tangier and a few coast-towns) renders it necessary for the European traveller to carry about not only a tent but a good deal of extra baggage, cooking-appliances, &c., which would otherwise be superfluous. The impedimenta are transported on the backs of mules, which, may be hired at the rate of one dollar per diem. One or two Moors must also be taken to pitch tents, load and unload the pack-animals, and so make themselves generally useful, which they always do. They were usually paid one and sixpence a day each. The only provisions which can be procured at the country villages consist of fowls, eggs, butter, milk, and kuskoo-soo; the latter is a peculiar preparation of flour, and may be considered the national dish of Morocco. It is therefore advisable for a party travelling in the interior to provide themselves with some tins of preserved meat and vegetables, as well as with whatever wine, spirits, &c. they might require. The most satisfactory way of making an expedition through the country, I have found by experience,
- MOROCCO. 7
is to contract with a respectable Moor, who will -usually defray the entire expenses, including hire of baggage, animals, servants, cook, and meals, exclusive of wine, at the rate of five dollars a head per diem.
As far as I have had opportunities of judging, I have reason to consider travelling in Morocco to be unattended with any danger near the coast, but not east of Tetuan, in the Riff country, or in mountainous districts ; and to Englishmen the natives are certainly better inclined than to any other European nation. The late Sultan, however, issued an edict to the effect that he would not hold himself responsible for the life or property of any Christian who at the time of any outrage should be unattended by a Moorish soldier ; and a mounted soldier to act as guard can always be procured on application to the Consul of the nation to which the applicant belongs. Any party intending to make an expedition further than ten or fifteen miles from Tangier should provide themselves with this necessary functionary, to whom they must pay one dollar a day. This sum is generally considered to be exorbitant ; and it certainly is so in a country where the necessaries of life are far cheaper than in any country in Europe. The real truth, however, is that the Moorish authorities throw as many diffi- culties as they possibly can in the way of inquisitive European travellers, well knowing that, were the interior thoroughly opened up, the vile system of oppression and misgovernment to which it is and has been for so long a victim would vanish before the opinion of the civilized world.
The vicinity of Tangier is as good a ground for the ornitho- logist as can be wished anywhere ; but it has been a great deal worked up by Olcese, who succeeded Favier as the naturalist of Tangier. About twelve miles to the south are the lakes of Sharf el Akab, well worth visiting for aquatic birds. The country beyond this to Larache is not good until within the neighbour- hood of that town, where there is plenty of both marshy and
8 INTRODUCTION.
dry ground, the latter, in places, better wooded than usual. Near Larache, on the north bank of the river, are the ruins of the ancient Lixus, at or near the spot where Hercules is supposed to have conquered Antaeus, the founder of Tangier, which takes its name from his wife Tinga.
South of Larache are the lakes of Meshree el Haddar (the talkers' ford) and Has el Doura, the latter running for miles southwards in the direction of Rabat. These lakes swarm with every kind of aquatic bird, according to the season ; but in the breeding-time the mosquitoes are enough to drive any European away, besides which the nests are so plundered by the Arabs that it is hardly worth while going there for them. Further south than this I have not been, and refer my readers for any information to Mr. Drake's paper in ' The Ibis ' (I. c.).
Eastward of Tangier, taking the road to Tetuan, there is little or nothing to be done in the way of birds until the latter place is reached, after a long and tedious day's journey ; indeed all that part of Morocco which I have visited is very wearisome to travel over, except near Tetuan and Ceuta, where the mountains break the sameness of the route, and where alone any true beauty of scenery is to be found.
Of these hills only those in the immediate vicinity of Tetuan can be visited, owing to the lawless character of the hill tribes and their Mahometan prejudices, and, last but not least, owing also to the exaggerated stories made up to prevent any European from travelling about. In a stream from one of these mountains, to the south of Tetuan, a species of trout (Salmo macrostigma] is found ; they are also probably met with in other places, which are forbidden ground to the European.
The country about Tetuan is alike interesting to the ornitho- logist and favourable to the sportsman ; about Martine are some fine marshes, while beyond Cape Negro, towards Ceuta, is a large, irregularly shaped, shallow laguna, called Esmir, with great masses of rush and sedge interspersed with tamarisk
APES' HILL. 9
bushes, separated from the sea by a wide sandbank covered with brushwood ; this laguna and marshes are by far the best ground to be seen on either side of the Straits. Proceeding from Esmir, towards Ceuta, the road lies either on the shore or along the usual scrub-covered country till, turning to the left by some Roman ruins, a pass leading up to the Sierra Bullones is entered, when the scenery becomes very fine, the track ascending by the side of a bright clear stream, through bushes sometimes so thick as to completely shut out the sky overhead, at other times passing through heather, in places twenty feet high. The path becomes gradually worse, till the climax is reached in the ascent of a steep hill where the brushwood tears the load oif the mules, and with the stones and rocks nearly renders progress impossible. Once, however, at the top, a fair enough road is found leading to the village of Beut, situated in a sort of plateau at an elevation of about 1000 feet, separated from Jebel Musa by a deep valley, a high range of rocks, and another shallow valley.
About here nothing, ornithologically speaking, is to be seen (excepting a few Choughs) that is not to be met with elsewhere. We found an Eagle nesting on the north face of the range south of Jebel Musa : the nest was in a most difficult position to get at ; and not being able to reach any place near enough from which to shoot the Eagle, we left the eggs as worthless, because unable to identify the bird : however there is little doubt that it was the Golden Eagle. We saw some apes about the rocks ; they were rather wild, and lost no time in making their way to the top.
The view from this sierra (Apes' Hill of the English, Jebel Musa of the Moors, Sierra Bullones of the Spaniards, Abyla of the ancients) is magnificent, and baffles description, well repay- ing all the trouble and difficulties of the ascent.
To the south beyond Tetuan lie, half hidden in blue mist, the snow-streaked mountains of the Atlas, stretching far away
10 INTRODUCTION.
out of sight, the summit of one vast snowy pile rather to the south-east appearing to be as high, and looking quite as white, as the Sierra Nevada, near Granada, which is also distinctly visible to the north-east; but this African snowy range seems further off. Below to the east, stretched out as if on a ground- plan close to your feet, is Ceuta, with its ugly white-washed Spanish forts and towers, between which and the Tetuan river looms the gloomy headland of Cape Negro. Westward of this are range after range of comparatively low dark hills, rolling away towards Tangier and Cape Spartel, here and there one or two being topped with a few crags and rocks. Far to the west is the Atlantic, leading to the deep-blue Straits, looking, as they separate Europe and Africa, like some mountain-lake.
Tarifa, to the north-west, is clearly visible, as are the crags of the Sierra de San Bartolome, the sandy cliffs of Cape Trafalgar, and the long spit of land on which is the light- house ; while all the grey, bare, barren-looking Spanish sierras look, with the sun shining on them, as if they lay within a stone's "throw.
Gibraltar was shut out from our view, owing to the pleasantry of some Moors, who rolled large stones down the only path leading to the summit of the highest peak, and so prevented us from ascending. However the view we did get was such as can never be forgotten, and it was long before we descended to continue our hunt for birds.
The tops of these mountains, which are 2600 feet high (the highest part of JebelMusa is about 2800 feet), were covered with thousands of violets then in full bloom. The flowers were light-coloured when growing among the stones and waterworn rocks exposed to the sun, dark when shaded and growing among the stunted bushes which were scattered about here and there : their scent was perfect. Very few other flowers were growing on the tops ; but most conspicuous among them was the Gibraltar candytuft ; and the everlasting palmetto was met with
LARGE CAVE. 11
at the very highest places. The base of all "these" crags or cliffs is approached by a steep talus of small broken rocks, among which grows a very thick jungle of stunted cork- and olive-trees about 15 feet high.
On the north side of the range next to Beut and at the western end of it, at the base of the cliff, is a wide cave, which, at some distance from the entrance, branches off into two distinct caves, one going up hill, the other down. My com- panion ascended the upper one till he heard in the darkness the growling of some beast, probably a lynx or some wild cat ; so he returned, and we collected together from outside a lot of dead sticks and rubbish, which we dragged up in the darkness as near the animal as we could judge to be well within range : we then set fire to it, and stood ready for a shot ; but it was no use ; the brute, whatever it was, only retired further in, growling away more than ever.
The light of the fire proved the cave to be some hundred feet high, gradually narrowing to the top from the bottom, which near the entrance is about 12 feet wide, thus showing it to have been formed by two gigantic rocks or cliffs flung against one another at the time these limestone mountains were thrown up from the bottom of the sea, which in remote ages doubtless flowed over them. On both sides of the Straits, «. e. at Gibraltar and Abyla, these fissures or caves are common in the limestone ; but this particular one fairly rivals the well- known St. Michael's Cave at Gibraltar, and had, from the marks of fire, been inhabited at some not very distant period. The floor in places was quite a foot deep with the guano of Rock- Doves (Columla lima], numbers of which flew out from the nooks and crannies of the rock.
As far as we could understand from the Moors, who, living near Ceuta, spoke a few words of broken Spanish, there was a story of a Moor having ascended this cave till he came out somewhere at the top of the mountain ; be this as it may,
12 INTRODUCTION.
there was a fine breezy draught of air blowing downwards, which sent the smoke of our fire towards us till we, instead of the beast for whose benefit it was intended, were nearly suffocated.
Having no means of getting torches to further explore the cave, with heavy hearts we left the unknown animal to growl himself to sleep ; the Moors insisted, by the way, that what we heard was a " djinn," or evil spirit!
The south-east part of the range of the Sierra Bullones is a different formation, and we could trace signs of lead-ore and antimony in more than one place. Whether any mines will ever be worked in Morocco is doubtful : there is plenty of ground ; but at present it is forbidden to look for minerals by the enlightened and despotic Moorish government.
The track or road from Ceuta to Tetuan, after quitting the mountainous district, passes through the interminable scrub usual to the Mediterranean coast ; and bad as are mountain tracks in Spain, this one beats them all in roughness ; and, owing to the weary sameness of going up and down hill after hill, the journey seems endless.
En route, however, by the shore, nearly opposite Tarifa, lies, shrouded in large thick bushes, the ruins of Alcazar Leguer, a large old castellated Portuguese fort, built about the beginning of the fifteenth century. Some parts of the walls are in fair condition ; but the interior is very much dilapidated, and the whole overgrown with wild olive- and fig-trees, brambles and rubbish, desolation beyond description, its only tenants being Owls and (say the Moors) evil spirits. A covered way, formed by two parallel high walls with banquettes on their tops, runs down to the sea-shore, where it is broken down and blocked up with sand ; the ruins show signs of unskilful workmanship, and contrast very unfavourably with those of Roman construction, besides which, from being principally built of soft sandstone, they are much weather-worn where exposed to the rain.
MIGRATION. 13
Wherever I have wandered about in the coast-districts of Morocco the country is singularly destitute of trees of any size, what few there are being in the santos or graveyards. The consequence of this is, there is no change in the landscape ; stunted bushes, rocks, and cultivation constitute the general view. Nevertheless the climate is splendid and healthy, perhaps better than that of Andalucia ; and one quits it with the regret that such a fine country should in these days of civilization be, as it were, utterly wasted — a land rich beyond most in soil, minerals, and natural advantages of all sorts, within four days of England, remaining without any real government, without roads, bridges, or any means of communication, owing to political necessities abandoned to barbarians, whose chief object seems to be to keep the country as much as possible secluded from the prying eyes of Europeans.
MIGRATION, SHOOTING, &c.
The migration of birds, although a most interesting subject, is yet very imperfectly understood, and reliable data from different countries and places are still greatly wanted to elucidate it. Without doubt caused by the absence or abundance of food, which in turn is caused by difference of temperature, the passage of birds in these parts begins with most species almost to a day in the spring, usually lasting for about three weeks, though some, as the Hoopoe and the Swallows, are more irregular in their first appearance ; and with these the migration lasts throughout a longer period.
Few, indeed hardly any birds, do not migrate or shift their ground to some extent. I can name very few which do not appear to move, viz. Griffon Vulture, Imperial Eagle, Eagle- Owl, Blue Thrush, all the Woodpeckers, Tree-Creeper, Black- headed Warbler, Dartford Warbler, Crested Lark, Chough, Haven, Magpie, Red-legged and Barbary Partridges, and the
14 INTRODUCTION.
Andalucian Quail. Generally speaking, it seems to me that in the vernal migration the males are the first to arrive, as with the Wheatears, Nightingales, Night-Herons, Bee-eaters ; but this is a theory which requires more confirmation. Some species, as the Neophron and most of the Raptores, pass in pairs.
Most of the land-birds pass by day, usually crossing the Straits in the morning. The waders are, as a rule, not seen on passage ; so it may be concluded they pass by night, although occasionally Peewits, Golden Plover, Terns, and Gulls have been noticed passing by day.
The autumnal or return migration is less conspicuous than the vernal: and whether the passage is performed by night, or whether birds return by some other route, or whether they pass straight on, not lingering by the way as in spring, is an open question ; but during the autumn months passed at Gibraltar I failed to notice the passage as in spring, though more than once during the month of August myself and others distinctly heard Bee-eaters passing south at night, and so conclude other birds may do the same.
We have (vide Andersson's ' Birds of Damara Land,' pp. 18- 21) an account of the swarms of Hawks which appear there at the time they are absent from Europe and North Africa ; so it may be reasonably inferred with regard to one species, Milvus migrans (the Black Kite), that some of the vast numbers which pass the Straits of Gibraltar retire in autumn through the tropics to South Africa.
The best site for watching the departure of the vernal migration is at Tangier, where just outside the town the well- known plain called the " Mashan," a high piece of ground that in England would be called a common, seems to be the starting-point of half the small birds that visit Europe.
Both the vernal and autumnal migrations are generally executed during an easterly wind, or Levanter : at one time I
SHOOTIXG. 15
thought that this was essential to the passage ; but it appears not to be the case, as whether it be an east or west wind, if it be the time for migration, birds will pass, though they linger longer on the African coast before starting should the wind be westerly ; and all the very large flights of Raptores (Kites, Neophrons, Honey-Buzzards, &c.) which I have seen passed with a Levanter. After observing the passage for five springs I- am unable to come to any decided opinion, the truth being that as an east wind is the prevalent one, the idea has been started that migration always takes place during that wind. Nevertheless it is an undoubted fact that during the autumnal or southern migration of the Quail in September, they collect in vast numbers on the European side, if there be a west wind, and seem not to be able to pass until it changes to the east ; this is so much the case that, should the wind keep in that quarter during the migration, hardly any are to be seen.
On some occasions the passage of the larger birds of prey is a most wonderful sight ; but of all the remarkable flights of any single species, that of the Common Crane has been the most noteworthy that has come under my own observation.
On the Andalucian side the number of birds seen even by the ordinary traveller appears strikingly large, this being, no doubt, in a great measure caused by the quantity which are, for ten months at least out of the year, more or less on migra- tion ; that is to say, with the exception of June and July, there is no month in which the passage of birds is not noticeable, June being the only one in which there may be said to be absolutely no visible migration, as during the month of July Cuckoos and some Bee-eaters return to the south.
Though shooting is hardly a subject within the design of an ornithological brochure like the present, yet it generally happens that an ornithologist is also a sportsman ; and there- fore a few lines on the subject may be acceptable.
In the coast-districts of Morocco no large game is found
16 INTBODUCTION.
within reach of the European sportsman, excepting wild pigs, which are only to be obtained by the battue system of driving the jungle with beaters and dogs, sitting for hours waiting for the chance of a shot, a class of amusement dignified by the name of a " boar-hunt " ; sometimes, where the country is sufficiently open, the real sport of pig-sticking can be had.
No doubt further in the interior there is other large game ; but with the exception of shooting an occasional gazelle and a few pigs, there is no opportunity of using the rifle.
The small-game shooting is very good ; the abundance of Barbary Partridges in some districts is miraculous ; but when killed they are of little value in a culinary point of view, being more dry and tasteless than the Spanish Redleg (Caccabis rufa], now SQ well known in many parts of England.
The number of Snipe in some seasons is very great, especially at Meshree el Haddar, where, and also at Ras el Doura, Larache, Sharf el Akab, Martine near Tetuan, and Esmir near Ceuta, as good snipe- and wildfowl-shooting as may be wished for can be obtained. But it is, as ever in Europe with Snipe, always uncertain sport, as one day swarms are met with, and perhaps on the next day hardly any are to be found. The absence of roads and bridges renders the country in wet weather at times impossible to travel over, the tracks becoming a succession of mudholes, and the rivers impassable torrents. This, added to the unpleasant certainty of living under canvas during rainy weather, is a great drawback to winter shooting.
Another, in my opinion insuperable, objection to shooting in Morocco is, that if any great quantity of game be bagged, it has to be thrown away, as, unless within twenty miles or so of Tangier, it is useless. The Moors, being Mahometans, will not eat any thing killed by a Christian or infidel ; and killing for the mere sake of slaughter does not come within the creed of a true sportsman. In Spain all this is very different, as any one and every one is only too glad to accept of the surplus game.
GAME-SHOOTING. 17
In many parts of Morocco rabbits abound ; and hares are in places plentiful. Woodcocks are sometimes tolerably abundant ; Quails, of course, are in swarms during migration ; and there are a great number of Little Bustard.
Shooting in Andalucia is far more satisfactory and pleasant sport than on the African side. In the first place, accommodation can always be had in a house of some sort, which in warm weather, however, usually swarms with fleas ; but by taking your own blankets and a camping-palliasse, which can be refilled at each resting-place with chopped straw, one can generally, by the aid of a liberal use of either flea-powder * or albo-carbon (naphthalin), manage to cheat the vermin of their nocturnal banquet. It is almost absolutely necessary to take this powder with one, as sleep in some of the dens where I have passed the night would have been impossible without using it. Another most useful item is an india-rubber flexible bath, as it is not always that a " lebrillo " or large earthenware pan big enough to wash in can be obtained.
In addition to the shelter to be got in Andalucia there are roads ; and bad as some may be, they do afford means of communication ; and there are bridges, though not always placed in the right situation; for in places you see a bridge built across a gully without any road on either side of it, and others where the stream has quitted its old course for a new one— single instances out of the many thousand strange and wondrous cosas de Espana.
The large game is more varied and plentiful in Andalucia than in Morocco. In most of the wooded valleys of the sierras, near Gibraltar, there were a good many roe-deer (corzo) and a few wild pigs ; in some of the high sierras near Ronda, Ubrique, and in the Sierra Nevada the Spanish Ibex is sparingly found*;
* This vegetable powder .is made from a species of Feverfew (Pyrethrum roseum), and is quite innocuous except to insects ; many other plants of the Chrysanthemum group are equally offensive to parasitic insects,
C
18 INTRODUCTION.
but it is extremely difficult to get them without organizing a regular drive or batida — a very expensive affair, requiring a party of several guns, who must take tents, cooks, &c. up into the mountains ; and then, if successful, as far as sport is concerned it is hardly worth while sitting for several hours behind a stone, nine times out of ten without even seeing an ibex. It is very difficult to stalk them, as they lie hidden in the thick stunted fir and other scrub which is scattered in large patches on the mountain-sides, and are so wary that you cannot come suddenly on them like roe-deer. However, in an ibex- shooting expedition, one is amply repaid by the magnificent scenery and the novelty of the affair ; but as far as shooting goes it is a failure, and every ibex killed by a Gibraltar party costs more than I should like to state.
Ibex drop their young about the end of April ; on one
occasion a shooting expedition with which I was present
succeeded in getting two, both of which I sent home to the
Zoological Gardens ; but unfortunately they did not long
survive.
I am informed that " Ibex, as late as 1830, frequented the sierras above Algeciraz, but a disease which broke out among the tame goats was communicated to the Ibex, who all perished."
In the Sierra Morena, near Palma, a little to the west of Cordova, are red deer strictly preserved and well pastured ; the " heads " of the stags are very fine, which is not the case with those of the Goto Dofiana, near San Lucar de Barrameda. All these, however, being wood-frequenting deer, the antlers do not branch out very widely, most of the heads being rather narrow. It is in small-game shooting that Andalucia excels, though it is in no way equal to that of the countries lying east of the Mediterranean. Foremost, both in numbers and sport, is Snipe-shooting ; for in some seasons, about November and December, if the weather has been dry, it is equal to any that can be obtained ; but all depends upon the weather, which,
SNIPE-SHOOTING. 19
if wet, causes the birds to disperse over the whole country, while if it be dry they remain in the sotos or marshes, and when flushed return almost immediately. Some of the best sport I have had with them was by waiting in favourite ground while they kept coming in, flying high up overhead, and then swooping down and pitching within a few yards. Fifty couple have been bagged in a day by one gun, and that a muzzle-loader, thirty or twenty-eight couple a gun per day being often obtained. The proportion of Jack-Snipe is about the same as in England, and they keep to the most wet and muddy spots. Snipe, as a rule, in Andalucia are far wilder than in other countries, which is no doubt caused by the nature of the marshes, which, often quite dry at the end of summer, are in winter regular lakes, only at their edges affording any resting-places for the birds, the cover being usually thin and bare.
There are many acres of ground flooded with water, from about six inches to a foot in depth, the whole dotted over with tussocks standing an inch or two above the water, and about a foot apart from each other. This tussocky ground is most difficult both to walk over and shoot on, as the tufts are not broad enough to stand on with both feet, and these slippery lumps of mud and grass standing above the water enable the Snipe to see a long distance, and cause them to rise very wildly ; while they also have a most provoking habit of flying up just as you are trying to balance yourself on one of the tussocks. The result, if you fire, is most probably a miss, and down you slip into the water, lucky if on your legs and not on your knees or, as happened to me more than once, on your face. There is, however, one point in favour of all these sotos : they have a firm bottom, the mud is never deep, and there are no quaking bogs or dangerous morasses as in Ireland. A retriever, it is almost needless to add, is perfectly indispensable for this kind of sport, saving (in addition to many birds that would otherwise be lost) much time and the bad temper which
c2
20 INTRODUCTION.
results from not being able to find birds that have fallen. Snipe in Andalucia are very seldom seen together in lots or wisps, though occasionally in very wet stormy weather small wisps appear. The best localities which I have visited in Andalucia are the marshes near the edges of the Marisma, or delta of the Guadalquivir, below Seville, especially just beyond Coria del Rio, and near the Goto del Rey and the Goto Dofiana ; one spot near the Palacio of the former place, las Carnicerias, is excellent. At Casa Vieja, or, more properly speaking, Casas Viejas, some forty miles from Gibraltar, is very good ground, particularly in the first part of the season ; there are also good marshes near Vejer. Late in the season, near Taivilla and Tapatanilla, on the road from Tarifa to Vejer, at times Snipe are also to be found very plentifully, but are very wild, and it is impossible to make a large bag as there is no cover.
The wildfowl- or duck-shooting in dry seasons is very fair in the early part of the winter, before the lagoons and rivers are filled up by the rains, there being then very few wet spots, and the birds crowd together in the small pools Avhich remain between the high banks of the river-beds, and can be easily approached ; but later on, when these streams are brimful or, rather, overflow their banks, and when the lagunas are sheets of water without rushes or cover of any sort at the edges, it is almost impossible to shoot ducks by day except by making " hides " with sticks and stones, and sending some one round and trying to have them driven over you. At flight sometimes very fair sport is to be had for one or two nights ; but after that the fowl know the place, and either come very late or avoid it altogether. For flight-shooting a good retriever is absolutely necessary ; for it is, in the dark, impossible to find the spoil ; and if left till morning, the Marsh-Harriers are at them by break of day, leaving nothing but bones and feathers. To my mind there is very great charm in flight-shooting, and a naturalist while waiting will see and hear much that is pleasant and perhaps
WILD GEESE. 21
some that is new to him. This sport requires, too, .considerable skill in judging the distance, and sharpness of vision in being able to catch a glimpse of the ducks as they pass over. It is a great help if you can place yourself so that you face the west, and thus get the birds in the evening light, when they can be seen coming a very long way off"; but if they come from the eastward, and you are obliged to face that way, they never show till close on you ; and the croaking frogs make an almost deafening noise, so that you cannot, as in England, hear the sound of the ducks' wings.
Immense numbers of Wild Geese in some years are found in the winter months about the Laguna de la Janda, and below Seville, in the marshes of the Guadalquivir. They are of course very difficult to " get at"; but as they pass the day on the ground at the edge of the water, and always have certain favourite spots to which they resort, they are to be got by digging or making " hides " at the places they most frequent. In the morning, at sunrise, they collect on the water, in some places in hundreds, and swim about feeding for an hour or two on some substance which they pick up from the bottom of the shallow water ; after this they disperse and take to the shore, where, if left undisturbed, they pr.cs the day sleeping and pluming themselves. There is one of these goose-haunts near the Palacio of the Goto del Rey, a little to the south-east of it. One morning in January, having the day previously made a hide among some tufts of rushes, I went and laid up before sunrise to await the geese, which arrived by degrees in flight after flight, till there must have been within a mile of me, at the lowest computation, between three and four thousand ; I shall never forget the sight, and I lay concealed watching them for at least two hours. I could not distinguish amongst them more -than one lot of about a dozen Bean-Geese ; the remainder were all Grey-lags. Some hundreds were within about a hundred yards, and it was
22 INTRODUCTION.
very amusing to see them feeding, fighting, and playing with one another ; but somehow they were evidently suspicious of the patch of spiky rushes in which I was lying flat in the slight hole which had been made between two tufts of rushes and covered over with others dug up by the roots, and arranged so as to look as if growing. Unable to turn on my side or move in the least, I was so cramped that it was all I could do to remain there ; but after a time a large lot of geese began to set in towards my position, and in a few minutes more I should have had a good family shot. I had plenty of chances of firing, but could not have got more than a couple ; besides which I liked to watch them, so waited on in hopes of a good lot coming close to me, when, alas ! cries of alarm were heard from the birds furthest away on my right, and after a minute or two they began to fly up, and I could see against the sky a man riding towards them. The geese in front of me all pricked up their heads and were getting ready to be off; so I was obliged to jump and send both barrels at them as my only chance ; and by good luck, or rather thanks to the large shot, two were killed, but not enough to recompense one for lying cramped up for so long ; nevertheless I was more than repaid by the sight of so many wild geese and some other fowl close to me, and being able to watch their movements. Any one who would take the trouble to try punt-shooting with a big gun below Seville on tidal waters might make some wonderful bags, as the enormous quantities of Geese, Wigeon, and other ducks can only be approached with the aid of a punt. When near the edge of water you can always approach Ducks with a stalking-horse ; and Geese will allow this on their first arrival, but soon become too wary.
Golden Plover are extremely abundant in vast flocks from November to March. On their first arrival they are not so wild as afterwards. They can always be " got at " with a stalking-horse ; but as good a plan to shoot them as any is
QUAILS AND BUSTARDS. 28
to stand still in some place which they frequent .on a windy day, when they will often fly within a few yards. Peewits are numerous, but not worth shooting, as is the case with Curlews ; but the latter are, as elsewhere, much too wary to allow themselves to be shot, and during the whole time I was in Andalucia I never but once had the chance of killing one.
Woodcocks in some seasons are numerous ; but five or six couple in a day is a very good bag, very different from Albanian shooting. Red-legged Partridges (Caccabis rufd) are not worth the trouble of going after, either for sport or for the table ; in some places there are a good number, but not near Gibraltar ; they are the chief object of sport with the Spaniards, who kill them at all seasons, even shooting them from the nest. Quails are, during the enfrada or autumnal migration, so extremely abundant that, if there has been a westerly wind for a few days in September, when they are on passage, there is really no limit to the number that may be shot. About Tarifa at that season every gun-possessing man and boy turns out with all the cur dogs in the town, and, regardless of each other, they fire in all directions, so that it is a service of danger to go out near them. If the wind during their passage remains in the east, the Quails pass on, and little or no sport is to be had with them. A west wind appears to detain them and prevent their passing the Straits, though it does not seem to retard their migration by land.
The remaining small game to be noticed in Andalucia are Bustards, hares, and rabbits. The Great Bustard is only to be got with any certainty by driving. The Little Bustard, more wary still, is only to be shot in the' end of July and in August during the extreme heat of the day, though rarely they can be driven over a gun by getting under the bank of a river or such like shelter, and sending a man round to put them up ; but on rising they usually mount up very
24 INTRODUCTION.
high, in this respect differing from the Great Bustard, which seldom flies high enough to be out of shot if you are directly underneath. Hares (Lepus mediterraneus) are a much smaller species than in England, about the size of a good average English rabbit, not very abundant anywhere and frequenting open fiat and cultivated districts, never being found among woods or high ground. Rabbits, of course, are abundant but very small, rather less in size than the New - Forest rabbit, which is the most diminutive race in England. A shooting - license, easily obtainable through the aid of any British Consul, is requisite in Spain ; and though seldom asked for, it is better to have one. The form and cost of one varies according to the Government, and therefore is seldom alike two years in succession. A close time has been established, but, needless to say, in the wild districts is not regarded.
Here follows a partial list of the Mammalia of Andalucia, with their local names, which may be useful to the sportsman. Of course there are other species of small Mammals to be found, especially among the Bats ; with the names of the latter I have been kindly assisted by Lord Lilford, who has personally obtained them all in Andalucia. Those marked with an asterisk I have obtained myself or seen " in the flesh."
Greater Horse-shoe Bat Ehinolophus ferrum-equinum.
* E. euryale.
Lesser Horse-shoe Bat . E. bibastatus.
Dysopes rueppellii.
Barbastelle Barbastellus communis.
*Noctule Vespertilio noctula.
*Mouse-coloured Bat . . V. tnurinus.
*Schreiber's Bat V. schreiberi.
Long- eared Bat V. auritus.
V. schreiberi, V. murinus, and R. euryale are found in caves near Casas Viejas — the two former species in countless numbers,
MAMMALIA.
25
the dung at the bottom of the caves being from four to five feet in depth. The Spanish name for all is Murcielayo.
*Hedgehog Erinaceus europseus.
*Shrevv Sorex araneus.
*Mole Talpa europaea.
*Badger Meles taxus.
*Comrnou Marten Cat . . Mustela foina.
*Polecat M. putorius.
*Weasel M. vulgaris.
*0tter Lutra vulgaris.
*Genet Viverra genet ta.
*Ichneumon Herpestes ichneumon.
*Wild Cat Felis catus.
*Spanish or Spotted Lynx F. pardina.
*Wolf Canis lupus.
*Fox C. vulpes, var. melanogaster.
Squirrel Sciurus vulgaris.
*Fat Dormouse Myoxus glis.
M. nitella.
*Dormouse M. avellanarius.
*Brown Eat Mus decumanus.
*Mouse M. musculus.
*Black Eat M. rattus.
*Long-tailed Field-Mouse M. sylvaticus.
*Water-Eat Arvicola amphibius.
*Field-Mouse A. agrestis.
*Hare Lepus mediterraneus.
*Eabbit L. cuniculus.
*Wild Pig Sus scrofa.
*Eed Deer Cervus elaphus.
*Fallow Deer C. daina.
*Eoe Deer C. capreolus.
*Ibex Capra hispanica.
Spanish names. Erizo. Musarana. Topo. Tejon. Foina. Turon. Coinadreja. Nutra or Nutria. Gineta.
Melon, Meloncillo. Gato raontes. Gato clavo, Gato cerval. Lobo. Zorro. Ardilla.
Liron campestre. Eaton careto. Lirori de los Avellanos. Eata. Eaton. Eata negro. Eaton de campo. Eata de agua. Topino. Liebre. Conejo.
Jabali, Jabalina. Ciervo.
Gamo, Paleto. Corzo. Cabra monte's.
In this book I have endeavoured to name with each species of bird some definite locality where they may be found, which is rather necessary, as certainly on the Spanish side of the Straits birds are very locally distributed, perhaps more so than
26 INTRODUCTION.
in most countries I have visited. It is difficult to surmise the cause of this, .as precisely similar tracts of country within no very great distance of each other are not always frequented by the same birds. On the Spanish side, without doubt, the most common bird as regards numbers is the Goldfinch, and the most universally distributed the Stonechat. The number of birds of prey is very great, chiefly feeding on rabbits, rats, mice, reptiles, and insects ; they are very useful, and as the ground-breeding birds suffer much in the nesting-season from snakes and lizards, those birds of prey which feed chiefly on these enemies of the smaller birds render their lesser brethren valuable protection. The number of little birds, especially during the season of migration, is sure to be noticed even by the most unobservant. Immense quantities of Larks, Finches, and even some of the Warblers are brought into the markets ; but as a Spaniard seldom shoots at such small fry, they are chiefly netted, caught at night with a lantern and bell, or snared with bird-lime (%#).
The best localities for an ornithologist living at Gibraltar to obtain specimens or watch migration is the country west of an imaginary line drawn due north from Gibraltar as far as the latitude of Seville. Within this district, part of which is given in the Map attached to this volume, as much can be done as is possible in three or four months' time ; and the district is large enough to require many years to work it out thoroughly.
In the immediate vicinity of Gibraltar (or el Penon, as the Spaniards call it), the Cork-wood of Almoraima and the level ground, mud-flats, and old salinas " between the rivers " on the way to Algeciraz offer to the collector capital ground for work. In the Cork-wood particularly several birds are found breeding which do not seem to nest elsewhere. The ground north-east of Gibraltar is to a great extent covered with scrub and brushwood ; and little is to be done in the bird line in that direction.
LOCALITIES FOR COLLECTING. 27
The sierras being too far distant, cannot be worked from Gibraltar ; it is necessary to go to Algeciraz, Facinas, Pulverilla, or some cortijo near the hills you wish to work. Very deceptive in appearance, looking quite low and easy to ascend, it takes three or four hours to reach their tops, which, bare, rugged, and wild beyond description, are alone worth visiting for the view, which, always grand, on a clear day is magnificent, that from the Penon del Fraile to the west of Algeciraz being one of the finest. From these mountains run down numerous wooded valleys (gargantas) clothed with cork and oak trees, many of very large size, though badly mutilated by being lopped by charcoal- burners. The rocky streams which flow down these valleys are fringed with rhododendron, arbutus, holly, hawthorn, laurestinus, oleander, bay, myrtle, giant heather, cistus, and many sorts of ferns, conspicuous amongst them being the Osmunda and maiden- hair, while here and there is an occasional Caladium with its huge leaves reminding one in shape of elephant's ears : the leaves of this plant, called Jwjas de llama, are much used by the country people as a medicine for fevers ; many of the rocks and all the trunks of the cork-trees are festooned with hare's-foot fern (calaguala), also used medicinally.
In spring these ravines are, from their natural beauty and the colour of these various shrubs and flowers, so picturesque that one cannot help lingering about them merely to admire the charming scenery, becoming apt to forget the birds for which one is in search. These places are seldom visited by an Englishman, only by stray smugglers, goatherds, and charcoal- burners ; and every pass, hill, valley, in fact every well-marked situation, has its name, many more familiar to me than the streets of London.
Those valleys most worth visiting near Gibraltar are the Garganta del Capitan, to the north-west of Algeciraz, on the way to Ojen by the mountain-path of la Trocha, which is within easy distance (five or six miles) of Algeciraz. The valley
28
INTRODUCTION.
of the Guadalmalcil, halfway on the road between Tarifa and Algeciraz, is also very beautiful ; but the Garganta del Helecho (Valley of the Ferns), south-west of Pulverilla, is perhaps the best for shrubs, flowers, and ferns. The " Waterfall " valley, near Algeciraz (la Garganta del Aguila), is tamer than any ; but above the cascades or waterfalls it improves on acquaintance. This ravine, however, is well knowTn to every one who has been at Gibraltar as the regular rendezvous for picnics, the very name of which is enough to destroy any merits that the scenery may possess. Towards Tarifa and beyond, on the road to Vejer, the country is not so pretty, opening out near Facinas to the vega
TEBEACE ON THE NORTH SIDE OF SAN BAETOLOM^.
of the Laguna de la Janda ; thence cultivated ground, or campina, stretches away to Medina Sidonia and on to Jerez. On the right and left of this road, however, are three isolated rocky ranges — those of la Sierra de San Bartolome and la Sierra de la Plata being to the left, that of la Sierra de Enmedio to the
EOCKY CLIFFS, ETC. 29
right ; these ranges are the breeding-places of Griffon Vultures and other rock-breeding birds, and are well worthy of a visit.
I here give the names of a few of the rocky cliffs which should be visited by those who wish to see such places : — la Laja de la Zarga and la Silla del Papa, in the Sierra de Plata ; la Laja del Ciscar *, to the east of and near Taivilla ; Piedra de Paz, near Paterna ; la Laja de los Pajaros, los Jolluelos, and la Laja de Peiiarroyo, near Casas Viejas.
There are also magnificent cliffs in the Sierra de las Cabras, east of Alcala de los Gazules, and hundreds of others which I saw but could not find time to visit. I did not care to send "collectors" to bring eggs without the birds to which they belonged ; or, as is often the case with these worthies, they would have brought eggs with birds to which they did not belong, and, with unblushing effrontery, sworn perhaps, as I have known them do, that a Turkey's egg was taken by them in a high cliff, and belonged to an " Aguila de las rocas."
It is to be hoped that this book may not be the cause of the useless or unnecessary destruction of any bird, and especially that dealers may not profit thereby. All mentioned is intended for the benefit of true ornithologists, and not for those who are never satisfied unless killing or having killed as many rare birds as possible.
It will be seen that there is sport to be had in Andalucia ; and the shooting has the charm of a varied bag, and the freedom to wander where you like, as a rule ; added to which it is necessary to work for your game, which, in my idea, adds much to the pleasure of sport. The climate, too, is all that can be wished, especially in spring, when there is something most exhilarating in the air; but in autumn, until October, it is too warm to go out with pleasure, and the sun-baked, tawny, dusty, thirsty-looking country has lost all the beauty of its flowers and the verdure of spring. To see Andalucia, it should be visited in
* This name is from " ciscar," to besmear, the whole face of the laja being so whitened by th.3 Vultures' droppings as to be conspicuous some miles off.
30 INTRODUCTION.
March, April, and May, in order to thoroughly appreciate both the climate and the scenery.
Another hint which I would fain give is to be as civil as possible, and conform to the customs of the country. The Andalucian peasant, courteous and polite, is at heart a caballero, and very different from the inhabitants of the towns ; at the same time he is proud and independent, and, to humour him, he must be treated on terms of equality. Above all things remember that it is no use attempting to hurry in Spain, where patience is more severely taxed than in any other country, and where no corre prieaa is the order of the day. Certainly the best cure for impatience is to pass a few months among Spaniards.
Here ends this Introductory Chapter, with apologies for its shortcomings in the fact that it is the concoction of one who detests pen, ink, and paper, and who is more at home with the gun, rifle, or fishing-rod ; so, in the manner of the country which to me has so many charms, let me conclude with the farewell and time-honoured salutation, Vaya Vd. con Dws.
EL OBGATsO, KEAB, TAKIFA.
CHANGES IN THE VICINITY OF THE ROCK. 31
Since the preceding was written, alas ! more than twenty years ago, the writer has on several occasions in winter and spring visited his old haunts, the last expedition being made in com- pany with Major Willoughby Verner, Rifle Brigade, who was quartered at Gibraltar from 1874 to 1881, and who has since made frequent visits. To him I owe many records of his practical observations, as well as to Mr. Meade-Waldo for some notes made by him during a visit to Tangier in the spring of 1892.
Captain Savile Reid, late Royal Engineers, contributed a paper to ' The Ibis,' 1885, " Winter Notes from Morocco " ; while Mr. Abel Chapman wrote in ' The Ibis,' 1884, " Rough Notes on Spanish Ornithology," and in many of his Chapters of his ' Wild Spain ' he treats of Andalucian birds.
" Aves de Espana/' by Don Jose Arevalo y Baca, vol. xi. ' Memorias de la Real Academia de Ciencias ' (Madrid, 1887), contains some information on Andalucian birds, and all given on personal observation is no doubt bond fide, but unfortunately he often quotes one upon whom we cannot rely.
There is now, in 1894, little change in the country near Gibraltar, except in the dress of the peasantry, who have dis- carded most of their picturesque provincial costume, even the old sombrero is rarely seen, and replaced by the felt hat of the London rough ; while the " fair " sex have left off the grace- giving mantilla and even in wild out-of-the-way places adopted caricatures of modern fashions.
There seems, if possible, more poverty, and in the winter of 1893-94 there was mucha hamlre and actual deaths from want ; and had not the early spring of 1894 been exceptionally wet, there would have been a serious famine.
Among changes in the immediate vicinity of the Rock, a serious one for the Garrison is that the right of shooting over all that part " between the rivers " to as far as and including the Cork-wood has been hired and monopolized by some Gibraltar
32
INTRODUCTION.
merchants, so the British officer, who used to go where he wished, has no chance of a day's gunning : he must either cross the Straits or make an expedition into Spain — an expensive affair, which takes a day en route and another on return.
It is much to be regretted that the Garrison could not have arranged to hire this shooting, so as to enable officers to have a day's sport ; but the chance has passed away, probably not to return. In addition to this there are many other places marked acotado (preserved), which used not to be so, and many more
PEASANTRY, TAPATANILLA.
guns are carried in the country, which has caused a great decrease in the resident birds of prey during the last twenty years. About Gibraltar the Griffon Vulture is as numerous as then, but the Bearded Vulture is gone. In the provinces of Malaga and Granada many Vultures, Bearded and Griffon, are reported to have been destroyed by poison, laid for wolves &c. As few genera have been given as possible : the present rage is
MEASUREMENTS.
33
to give as many as any excuse can be found for, and will soon result in every bird having a separate genus ; and in addition some writers now give a bird the same generic and specific name, thus making as much confusion as possible in nomen- clature.
The unfortunate part of ornithology, as at present practised, is that it is chiefly confined to the slaughter of birds, whose skins, when compared and examined by table naturalists, are upon the slightest variation in plumage made into new species, without any knowledge of their habits, notes, &c. Much more can be done by observation than by the gun, and when a bird is destroyed all chance of noticing its habits is destroyed likewise. Measurements of length given are only an attempt to show the proportionate size of a species. Measurements, in the writer's opinion, are of little use, especially as hardly any two persons measure a bird in the same manner.
LAJA DEL CISCAB.
34 TUKD1D.E.
Order PASSERES. Family TURDIDJE.
Subfamily TURBINE. Young spotted.
1. Turdus viscivorus, Linnaeus. The Mistle-Thrush.
Spanish. Charla (Chatterer).
" Found near Tangier, always singly and very sparingly in company with T. musicus, on passage. They arrive in November, but do not stay near here, returning to recross the Straits in February. "—Favier.
They occasionally nest near Tangier, as in 1869 I saw eggs taken near there.
The Mistle-Thrush cannot be said to be common near Gibraltar, being most so in winter. They are considered to arrive and depart with the Woodcocks ; but a few pairs nest in the Cork-wood and other wooded districts.
Axillaries white ; a white patch on end of inner web of two outer tail- feathers on each side.
Young. Spotted with buff and black on head and back. Length 11 inches.
2. Turdus musicus, Linnaeus. The Song-Thrush.
Spanish. Zorzal.
Favier's note applies to this bird on both sides of the Straits, and is as follows : — " The Song-Thrush is a winter resident in great numbers, being the most common of the Thrushes, arriving in large flocks in October and November, departing in March."
On the Spanish side they chiefly frequent the wild olive-trees, on the berries of which they feed. The first date of arrival
TURDUS MEEULA. 35
noticed at Gibraltar was the 22nd of October ; and the latest day on which I observed them was the 1st of April.
Axillaries biiffish yellow ; eye-stripe scarcely developed.
Young. Spotted ; the feathers of upper surface with pale centres. Afte first moult young resembles adult, but has pale ends to the wing-coverts. Length 9 inches.
3. Turdus iliacus, Linnaeus. The Redwing.
Spanish. Malvis.
"This Thrush is very rare near Tangier. I have only met with two, between November and March — one in 1852, the other in 1864:."— Favier.
Mr. Meade-Waldo observed them on the 17th of February, 1892, near Tangier.
In Andalucia the Redwing is abundant in winter, in company with the Song-Thrush.
Axillaries chestnut-red ; well-defined whitish streak over eye, reaching to nape. Length 8| inches.
4. Turdus pilaris, Linnseus. The Fieldfare.
Is not mentioned by Favier, but Mr. Meade-Waldo found Fieldfares in abundance on the Moorish side of the Straits in the spring of 1892. On the Spanish side I never met with any, but they are reported by Arevalo from Granada.
Axillaries white ; rump slate-grey. Length 10 inches.
5. Turdus merula, Linnaeus. The Blackbird.
Moorish. Tchau Tchau (Favier). Spanish. Mirlo.
" Resident near Tangier and very plentiful, nesting three times a year." — Favier.
I found a nest in Morocco built in a prickly-pear hedge. The Blackbird nests at Gibraltar, and is resident and very
D2
36 TURDID.E.
common in Andalucia : in the winter months their numbers are greatly augmented by migrants.
Male. Black ; bill orange-yellow.
Female. Brownish black or reddish brown ; bill brown. Young. Like female, but more spotted ; the male with blackish bill. Length 10 inches.
6. Turdus torquatus, Linnaeus. The Ring-Ouzel.
Spanish. Chirlo.
" Is only met with in small nights on passage near Tangier, crossing to Europe in March and April, and returning in the autumn to pass the winter further south." — Favier.
I only observed the Ring-Ouzel near Gibraltar on passage in the spring, the earliest dates in each year being the 8th of April 1868, 20th of March 1870, 9th of April 1871, 12th of March 1872, 28th of March 1874; but they are known to breed in the mountains near Granada, and Mr. Saunders records a nest near Colmenar.
Male. Uniform brownish black, with wldte crescent on chest. Female. Lighter ; crescent narrower, washed with brown. Young. Spotted. Length 11 inches.
7. Monticola cyanus (Linnaeus). The Blue Rock-Thrush.
Moorish. Tchau-tchau zerak. Spanish. Solitario.
Favier states that the Blue Rock-Thrush, which is as common in suitable localities in Morocco as in Andalucia, is migratory, passing north from February to May, and passing south from August to September. I never could detect any migration on the Spanish side, and consider it one of the very few birds which are stationary, not even shifting their ground — though, perhaps, in other countries circumstances may cause them to migrate.
Abundantly distributed on all rocky ground, even on sea-cliffs, and often seen on house-tops in those towns which lie in their districts, they are always to be found at Gibraltar in unvarying
MOxNTICOLA CYAN US. 37
numbers, frequenting daily the same spots, and attracting considerable notice both from their melodious song and con- spicuous habits.
I here repeat a note made about their nesting, which has already appeared in Dresser's account of this species : — " A pair nested in a hole outside the wall of my stable at Gibraltar in June 1869. Five eggs were laid, which were hatched about the 20th. The nest, composed of small dried bits of roots, was very scanty and ill put together. When the young were hatched, I broke through the wall from the inside of the stable to the nest, making the hole large enough to admit a small cage, in which I placed the nest and young ; and then hung an old coat over the inside hole, so as to shut out the light from the inside, cutting a small slit in the coat through which to watch the old birds feeding their young within six inches distance. Both birds fed them, at intervals of not more than five minutes. The food consisted almost entirely of centipedes (Scolopendrce), with now and then a large spider or bluebottle fly by way of change. Where they could have found so many centipedes it is difficult to imagine, as they are insects which lie hid all day under stones &c. The head was always bitten off, and the insect so mangled as to be quite dead. Two of the five young died in the cage, from the old birds not being able to get at them. Of the other three, only one attained maturity, living till October, when, to my great regret, he went the way of all pets. He was very tame, and of most engaging habits and disposition — in fact, what the Spaniards call ' simpatico.' In his early days he was fed on bread and bruised snails ; later on he had more fruit, which possibly killed him.
"The Blue Rock-Thrush very often perches on trees, and at Gibraltar and Tangier is frequently seen on the house-tops, though generally observed on bare rocky ground. They are sometimes found in wooded places, if there are any high rocks ; for instance, a pair nested at the first waterfall near Algeciraz,
38 TUKDID.E.
which is in the midst of a dense forest. They have a habit in the courting-season of flying straight out from a rock, and then suddenly dropping with the wings half shut, like a Wood- Pigeon in the nesting-time. The Blue Rock-Thrush is very fond of ivy-berries and all fruit."
It seems that they nest more than once a year, as on the 25th of April Mr. Stark found a nest with young about a week old, and on the 3rd of May a nest with five eggs hard sat on, the one in my stable being hatched in the end of June. One set of eggs obtained by Mr. Stark were of the usual delicate pale blue colour, but marked with small russet spots at the large end, somewhat like eggs of the Black Wheatear (Saxicola leucura).
All the nests built on ledges of rocks and open to view are larger and better-built than those placed in holes.
Verner tells me (1894) that they still occupy the same situations on the Rock as they did twenty years ago ; and he knows no bird whose eggs are more difficult to find, as during time of laying and incubation they seem to know if they are watched ; and the nests on the Rock are, as a rule, more difficult of access than in the sierras. He found on May 22, 1875, five young able to fly ; May 13, 1877, five young fully fledged ; March 23, 1878, nest just finished ; April 24, 1879, nest just completed, first egg on April 13. They never seem to lay more or less than five eggs : this out of many nests he found.
Male in spring. Uniform slaty blue ; head and neck with silvery gloss : in autumn and winter with narrow whitish margins to the body-feathers. Female. Browner than male. Length 8£ to 9 inches.
8. Monticola saxatilis, Linnaeus. The White-backed Rock- Thrush.
" Is found on passage only near Tangier, crossing to Europe in April. Is a scarce species, and very rarely obtained during passage." — Favier.
SAXICOLA (ENANTHE. 39
I saw several near Tangier on the 16th of April, 1872, and one on the 30th of March, 1874, also numbers passing at Gibraltar on the 4th of April, 1870 ; and one was seen there returning on the 26th of September, 1868.
According to Arevalo this bird nests in all the mountain ranges of the Peninsula.
Tail chestnut, two centre feathers darker than others ; axillaries and lower parts chestnut.
Male. Head and neck blue ; centre of back nearly white. Female. Brown, mottled. Length 7^ inches.
9. Saxicola cenanthe, Linnaeus. The Common Wheatear.
Spanish. Culiblanco, Ruiblanca : but these names apply to all the Wheatears.
" This is the most common of the ' Traquets,' except the Stonechat and Whinchat, but is only seen near Tangier on migration in small flights during March and April, returning in September." — Favier.
Wheatears are abundant in Andalucia, but seen only on passage. First noticed on the 4th of March in 1870 ; a single male bird at Tangier on the 26th of March in 1874 ; many seen near Alcala del Rio on the 4th of April ; again passing in numbers at Gibraltar on the 12th of April. Wheatears were plentiful near Casas Viejas at the end of October and the first part of November, being last seen on the 13th of that month. I have a note also of observing six or seven in the middle of the Bay of Biscay on the 9th of October, when they settled on the steamer, keeping with us till night.
Axillaries white, writh dark centres. Rump white.
Male. Above pale slate-grey ; below white ; ear-coverts black.
Female. Above dull brown ; below buff ; ear-coverts dark brown.
Young. Like the female, but spotted with dark markings on feathers above and below.
Both sexes in autumn are alike, resembling female in spring, but have buff margins to all the feathers. Length 6 inches.
40 TURDID.E.
10. Saxicola stapazina, Vieillot. Western Black - throated Wheatear.
" Passes near Tangier during March and April, returning in September. Is the most frequent after the Wheatear, with which bird they travel." — Favier.
Is in Andalucia apparently less common than the Black-eared Wheatear, perhaps because they frequent higher ground ; at least I have noticed them more about mountain-tops. First seen 17th of March, 1877 (Verner), 23rd of March, 1894 (Tapatanilla). They nest about the same time as the Black-eared Wheatear, which they resemble in habits, nest, and eggs.
Axillaries black ; two-thirds of two centre tail-feathers black with the basal third white, the others white tipped with black.
Male. Crown, back, rump, breast, and belly white, suffused with buff' on back and breast. Chin and upper throat black. Length 5| inches.
11. Saxicola albicollis, Vieillot. The Black-eared Wheat- ear.
According to Favier, this bird is less common than Saxicola stapazina near Tangier, but is met with in the same way. Near Gibraltar they appeared to me to be the most frequent, and were first seen there on the 3rd of April, 1870, when several were noticed ; and on the 15th of March, 1872, one was observed, and a single bird at Tangier on the 14th. Seen at Tangier on the 18th March, 1894, by Mr. Irby, 60th Kifles, and by myself on the 23rd at Sierra Retin. They breed on the " Queen of Spain's Chair," laying about the first week in May, building a loosely constructed nest among stones and rocks, very often in the same situations as the Blue Rock-Thrush. The eggs are light blue, with a zone of brown spots at the large end.
Throat white.
Male. Marked as last, but has head and back more whitish, but generally suffused with buff; lores and patch round eye to side of neck black. Female. Brownish where black in male. Length 6^ inches.
SAXICOLA LEUCURA. 41
12. Saxicola leucura (Gmelin). The Black Wheatear.
Spanish. Sacristan (the Sexton) ; Pedrero (the Stone-mason).
This bird is merely named as occurring near Tangier by Favier, but is found in Morocco in suitable localities.
On the Spanish side the Black Wheatear is a common and conspicuous bird at Gibraltar, and to be seen throughout the year; elsewhere some are migratory, arriving in March, and only found on bare rocky ground. The nest is sometimes in clefts of rocks, so deep in as to be inaccessible.
Mr. Stark took a nest on the 25th of April, near Gibraltar, containing four pale blue eggs hard sat on, marked with a zone of light reddish-brown spots. The nest was very large, loosely built with grass and heather-roots, lined inside with finer grass, two or three feathers of the Neophron, and one bit of palmetto fibre.
The name of pedrero is applied to this bird from their curious habit of placing small stones as a foundation to their nest, and frequently, as when open to view, making a sort of wall or screen of stones in front of the nest.
Verner remarks that they much resemble the Blue Rock-Thrush in habits ; and all the many nests found by him had foundations of small stones — the first two had foundations only, but the third had a slight wall in front — and until he heard from me that this bird was known near Malaga as pedrero he was much puzzled to account for the stones being so placed. In some instances the foundation appears to be useful in keeping the nest dry.
The most remarkable nest we met with was on the 6th of April, 1894, in a small hole in the roof of a sandstone cave in the Sierra Bartolome. This nest, which I myself saw in situ, was made of grass and fibres lined with finer fibres of the palmetto, without wool or feathers : the cavity was filled by the nest and by the foundation and barrier of stones in front ; the latter was 9 inches long, the same in width, and 2^ inches high. Yerner removed the stones and found that the wall in front
42
TURDID^E.
""C-^— •*- *•** *^ '
v-<i '
NEST OF THE BLACK WHEATEAB.
PRATINCOLA KUBICOLA. 43
consisted of no less than 282 stones, while the 'foundation was formed of 76 more, a total of 358, the largest being 2 inches long by | inch wide and J inch deep, weighing 2 oz., the total weight of all the stones being 4^ Ibs. A representation of this nest is given : the cave was about six feet high and nearly circular, with a diameter of about twelve feet.
Verner found the usual number of eggs to be five, occasionally only four ; and they appear to be irregular in laying, one nest having fully fledged young on the 10th of April, other birds not laying till the end of that month.
Male. General colour black ; rmnp and under tail-coverts white. Female. Sooty brown where black in male, and tinged with brown on the white parts. Length 6^ inches.
13. Pratincola rubetra (Linnseus). The WMnchat.
Moorish. Erdan (Earner}. Spanish. Zarzalera.
" Is only a passing migrant near Tangier, crossing to Europe in April and May, returning to winter further south in September and October. Is the most common of the Chats, except the Stonechat." — Favier.
The Whinchat is met with as above, on the Spanish side being first noticed on the 7th of April ; on the 20th, in 1870, many hundreds passed at Gibraltar, also on the 12th of the same month in 1872, and I noticed them as late as the 3rd of May. They return in September, being never seen in winter, and are not yet known to breed in the south of Spain.
Male. Chest orange-rufous ; white line over eye from bill to nape ; basal half of tail white, rest black.
Female. Like male, but paler.
Young. Like old female, but more spotted, with white tips to the feathers. Length 5 inches.
14. Pratincola rubicola (Linnreus). The Stonechat. Moorish. Bou-erdan. Spanish. Caganchina, Cagaropa.
" The Stonechat is resident and most abundant about Tangier,
44 TUBDID.E.
being seen in all directions, perched on the tops of plants, bushes, and hedges. They nest from March to July. Some arrive from Europe in September and October, leaving in February and March." — Favier.
This bird is also on the Spanish side one of the most common and at the same time conspicuous birds. They increase perhaps in numbers in autumn and spring, but are as common in winter as in summer. I found a nest with five eggs hard sat on the 10th of March, and have no doubt that they breed more than once in the season.
Male. Head, chin, and throat black ; breast orange-chestnut ; upper tail-coverts whitish, spotted with black. Tail blackish brown ; outer weh of outside feathers edged with buff.
Female. Upper tail-coverts reddish brown ; lower parts rufous.
Young. Spotted. Length 5£ inches.
15. Ruticilla moussieri, Olph- Gal Hard. Moussier's Redstart.
Under the synonym of " Huticilla erythrogastra " — a large eastern Redstart — Favier, in his notes, has included Moussier's Redstart ; but his description fully identifies it as a male M. moussieri. He mentions one killed in 1848. I obtained an adult male at Tangier on the 14th of March, 1872, and saw three others killed in that month in 1874 ; since then they appear to be of irregular occurrence in spring.
I never obtained one on the Spanish side of the Straits, or saw a Spanish specimen.
Male. Crown, sides of head, back, and wings black ; white line over eye from forehead to nape. White patch on wing. Rump, upper tail-coverts, tail (except the two brown centre feathers), and underparts pale chestnut.
Female. Much as female of Common Redstart, but smaller and russet- red below. Length 4^ inches.
16. Ruticilla phcenicurus (Linnaeus). The Common Redstart. Moorish. Houmeira (reddish). Spanish. Culirojo.
" This Redstart is only found on passage near Tangier, crossing the Straits in March and April, returning in September
RUTICILLA TITYS. 45
and October. It is not so common as Ruticilla titys, and is seldom seen settled on rocks." — Favier.
The Common Redstart is seen in great numbers near and at Gibraltar on passage. My earliest dates of arrival noticed were the 4th of April 1868, 5th of April 1869, 22nd of March 1870, 28th of March 1874 (Tetuan), 23rd of March 1894. In.1872 they passed in great quantities on the 12th,. loth, 14th, and 15th of April, the last noticed being on the 26th, in the Cork-wood.
They are not known to remain and nest near Gibraltar, but are reported by Arevalo to do so near Granada.
Rurnp and tail chestnut ; axillaries chestnut, or rufous.
Male in spring. Black line in front of the white forehead ; chin, throat, and sides of neck black ; back grey ; centre of belly nearly white.
Female. Above dull brown ; underparts paler ; breast shaded with chestnut and white.
Male in autumn much as adult female.
Young. Spotted. Length 5j inches.
17. Ruticilla titys (Scopoli). The Black Redstart.
Spanish. Culirojo, Tintorero.
" This species is the most common Redstart about Tangier, remaining throughout the winter among rocks and old buildings. They arrive during October, and depart in March. The old birds are solitary ; but the immature birds keep together. They shake their tails incessantly, and, holding their heads erect, are difficult to get a shot at " (!). — Favier.
The Black Redstart is seen at Gibraltar, as at Tangier, arriving in November, and never being seen after March. They nest, however, a little way north of San Roque.
A specimen I killed at Gibraltar had been eating very small ants.
Tail and rump chestnut-red ; two centre tail-feathers dark ; axillaries Hack, or greyish black.
Male. Cheeks, throat, and breast black ; primaries and secondaries edged on outer webs with white ; centre of belly nearly white.
female and young male. Above entirely sooty brown ; underparts nearly as dark as the upper. Length 5f inches.
46 TURDID.E.
18. Ruticilla cyanecula, Wolf. The White-spotted Blue- throat.
Spanish. Soldiya, Gargantiazul.
" Found near Tangier only on passage, and then very rarely. I only obtained them four times — in 1839, 1844, 1866, and 1867. They cross to Europe in February and March, returning in October." — Favier.
Capt. Savile Reid saw many among reeds and rushes in the marshes of Meshree el Haddar in the winter of 1884-85 (Ibis, 1885, p. 242).
The greater number of this species must pass further to the east, as about Gibraltar I only saw one, which I shot on the 1st of March, as it was perched on some rushes in an old " salina " near Palmones ; another, shot in November 1873 at the same place, was in the possession of Capt. Reid. They are fairly common on passage in the provinces of Seville, Granada, and Malaga, but are not known to breed.
This Bluethroat, in 1760, was called by Brisson the " Gorge bleue de Gibraltar."
Tail brown, with basal two-thirds of all but two centre feathers chestnut. Male. White spot in centre of the blue throat.
female and young male. Below huffish white ; a dark band across throat, with occasionally faint marks of blue and chestnut. Length 6 inches.
19. Ruticilla suecica (Linnaeus). The Red-spotted Blue-
throat.
Recorded by Arevalo from Malaga and Valencia. This form, which ranges furthest north, resembles the last, except in having a red instead of a white spot on the throat. The form with entirely blue throat is known as R. wolfi, and has been obtained at Malaga.
20. Erithacus rubecula (Linnaeus). The Robin.
Moorish. Humar sidri. Spanish. Petirojo.
" Is resident near Tangier, and very common in all the
DAULIAS LUSCINIA. 47
gardens around the town. Numbers also migrate, arriving during October and November, departing in February and March." — Favier.
Common throughout Andalucia in winter. The Robin only comes to Gibraltar from about the middle of October to the middle of March, but then in considerable numbers. They are resident in the Cork-wood, nesting abundantly in April, where, one day in May, my attention was attracted by the chattering and scolding of two Robins, evidently in a great state of alarm and excitement ; close by them was a palmetto bush, to and from which they were flying, hovering over it, but not settling. At first I thought a cat, or perhaps an ichneumon, was lying up ; but tin peeping quietly into it, saw a snake, some three feet long, in the act of swallowing a half-fledged Robin at the edge of its nest. I drew back a pace, and fired a small charge of dust-shot into the reptile's head, cutting it nearly in half. The snake, however, had disposed of all the young birds ; so, though too late to save them, the parents were rescued, as no doubt they would have shared the fate of their progeny but for my inter- ference ; the snake I hung up in the nearest bush, "pour encourager les autres," the old Robins all the time watching my proceedings ; and it is to be hoped they were able to under- stand that their loss was partially avenged. The quantity of young birds — Robins, Nightingales, and similar ground-nesting Warblers — which are destroyed by snakes and lizards must be very great ; but many of these birds in Andalucia build their nests in bushes at some distance from the ground, no doubt to avoid the reptiles.
Chin, throat, and breast orange- chest nut.
Young in first plumage mottled, each feather orange-buff tipped with black. Length 5| inches.
21. Daulias luscinia (Linnaeus). The Nig-hting-ale. Moorish. Mula el hasan (Owner of Beauty, Favier), Umm el hasan (Mother of Beauty), Spanish. Ruisenor.
48 TURDJD.E.
" This bird is very common around Tangier, arriving during March and April, passing on across the Straits to return in August and September. Great quantities remain to breed about the thick bushy places, chiefly constructing their nest with the fibres of the palmetto, the same material used by the Arabs in making their tents." — Favier.
The Nightingale is equally abundant on the Spanish side. The number heard singing in the Cork-wood and elsewhere is perfectly surprising, every clump of bramble-brakes having its pair, though in some seasons they are more numerous than in others ; but there are always a great many. They are to be heard on the Rock for about ten days or a fortnight after their arrival, but nearly always pass on, though they have been known to nest, as in 1871. My earliest dates of their arrival are the 8th of April 1868, 2nd of April 1869, 7th of April 1870, 1st of April 1871, 21st of March 1872, Tangier; 30th of March 1874, Tetuan; noticed by Mr. Meade-Waldo on 22nd of March 1892, Tangier; 31st of March, 1894, Sierra Retin. Verner's dates of arrival are 5th of April, 1876 ; 3rd of April, 1877 ; 1st of April, 1879. The majority arrive about the 12th of April.
They begin to lay about the 1st of May, and usually build on the ground ; but sometimes the nest is placed in ivy or rubbish some two or three feet high. In swampy jungles it is built at the bottom of a bush, and has the lower half constructed of dead leaves, the upper part being made of dry sedges, like that of Savi's Warbler (Locustella luscmioides) ; only it is much neater, and lined with fine grass, hair, and occasionally feathers. As a rule there are young Nightingales in the Cork-wood by the 24th of May. Verner found young as late as the 3rd of July, 1879.
General colour russet-brown above ; upper tail-coverts and tail chestnut- brown ; underparts huffish white.
First primary longer than primary-coverts.
Young in first plumage spotted like a Robin. Length 6| inches.
ACCENTOR COLLAR1S. 49
Subfamily ACCENTOEIN.E.
22. Accentor modularis (Linnseus). The Hedge-Sparrow.
M. Favier did not include this bird in his list of Moorish birds, merely mentioning it as occurring near Gibraltar, having met with some during his " triste sejour " in that place, in November. I have seen specimens from the African side of the Straits. On the Spanish side they are found in winter, but not commonly, and I have shot them in the Cork-wood in January ; whilst Arevalo records them as breeding near Malaga and Granada.
Above reddish brown, streaked with blackish brown ; chin, throat, and breast bluish grey ; belly whitish.
Young. Streaked above and below ; no grey or white. Length 5| inches.
23. Accentor collaris (Scopoli). The Alpine Accentor.
Spanish. Serrano (Mountaineer).
I have only seen this bird at the back of the Rock at Gibraltar in winter, and shot one on the 1st of February, seeing others on the 26th of the same month in 1870. Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun., who was passing through Gibraltar, was the first to notice it at the signal-station. Arevalo records them breeding in the sierras of the Provinces of Malaga and Granada ; and they are no doubt found on all the high rocky ground, though I did not meet with any on the Sierra del Nino or elsewhere.
Chin and throat dull white, with black spot on each feather ; wing- coverts tipped with white ; tail dark brown, with pale buff tips. Length 7 inches.
E
50 TURDIDJ2.
Subfamily SYLVIIN^E.
24. Sylvia cinerea, Bechstein. The Common WMtethroat.
" Arrives about Tangier and crosses to Europe in April and May, returning to winter further south in September and October. Is nearly as abundant as the Blackcap, and seen on passage in small flights. On their return they have the top of the head the same colour as the back, like the females in spring." — Favier.
Mr. Meade-Waldo observed this bird's first arrival near Tangier on the 22nd of March, 1894.
I never saw the Common Whitethroat near Gibraltar in winter. Their first arrival was noticed in 1870 on the 7th of April, in 1871 on the 7th of April, in 1872 on the llth of April, many passing on the 19th and 20th, and in 1874 on the 8th of A.pril, in 1894 on the 30th of March. They nest abundantly in the Cork-wood, and also in quantities in marshy places, building their nests in thick leafy plants, often in those of the willow- herb (Epilobium) ; the average time for their laying is, the 7th of May. When looking for Savi's Warbler, we sometimes found a dozen nests in the day.
Sack reddish broion • legs pale brown ; chin and thro.it much whiter than the rest of the underparts ; quills and wing-coverts edged with pale rufous ; iris reddish broion. Length 5^ inches.
25. Sylvia curruca (Linnaeus) . The Lesser Whitethroat.
This bird is, as far as toy observations go, rare. A specimen was obtained in my garden at Gibraltar in April, and another on the 19th of April, 1872. It does not appear to have been noticed by M. Favier near Tangier.
Head and back bluish grey, back suffused with brown ; legs lead-colour ; iris yellowish white. Length 5£ inches.
SYLVIA ATRICAP1LLA. 51
26. Sylvia conspicillata, Marmora. The Spectacled Warbler.
Favier merely says of the Spectacled Warbler, that about Tangier they are not common, and only seen on passage north in March. He gives no date of their autumnal migration, but states that they pass the winter somewhere further south.
The earliest date on which they were obtained near Gibraltar was on the 10th of March. Is a conspicuous, scrub-haunting bird, frequenting dry and more open ground than the White- throat, often being seen among cactus bushes. A sure place for finding them is on the Carteian hills. They remain during the breeding-season, but I did not myself find the nest.
Chin and upper throat white, axillaries rosy rufous. Male. Brown-grey; eyelid red ; secondaries and wing-coverts broadly edged with chestnut ; below pale rosy rufous ; centre of belly white. Female. Duller in plumage. Length 8^ inches. Irides very light brown ; inside of mouth pale yellow.
27. Sylvia hortensis, Bechstein. The Garden- Warbler. "Found near Tangier, on passage to Europe, in April and
May, returning in October, when it is nearly as plentiful as the Common Whitethroat." — Favier.
The Garden- Warbler mostly arrives during the middle of April, and was first observed on the 10th. The latest I saw was on the 7th of October. They nest around Tangier and in the Cork-wood, laying about the 10th of May, and are brought into the market at Gibraltar as " becafigos ; " for later in the season, like most of the family, they are great devourers of figs.
General colour above and tail olive-brown ; underparts greyish white. Head same colour as back ; axillaries and under wing-coverts buf ; chin and throat not whiter than rest of underparts. Length 5-£ inches.
28. Sylvia atricapilla (Linnaeus). The Blackcap. Moorish. Shorrir el Kebir.
" Is nearly as common as S. melanocephala about Tangier,
E2
52 TUKD1D.E.
being seen on all sides during migration, passing north in January and February, returning in October. Many remain to nest." — Favier.
The Blackcap is to be seen during every month in the year, but is, of course, most common in February and October. They sometimes nest on the Rock, always plentifully in the Cork-wood. The young have been seen fully able to fly on the 24th of May. Verner found a nest with three eggs on the 15th of March, 1877, in the Convent Garden, and a nest with four hard-set eggs on the 16th of March, 1880, in the Mount Garden. They chiefly fed in my garden for some time on the seed of the so-called " pepper- tree " (Schinus molle), in company with Black-headed Warblers, and, to my surprise, with the Black Redstart ; at least the latter were seen pecking at the seeds.
The species may be distinguished at a glance from the other black-headed Warblers met with near Gibraltar by the absence of white on the tail.
General colour above ashy brown ; chin and throat bluish grey ; tail without any white.
Male. Head black. Length 5| inches. Female. Head rufous. Length 6£ inches.
29. Sylvia orphea, Temmiuck. The Western Orphean Warbler.
Andalucian. Canaria.
"This Warbler passes by Tangier in April and May to return in September, travelling in company with the Whitethroats. Is not common, and in some years scarcely met with." — Favier.
The Orphean Warbler did not appear to be common near Gibraltar, and I could not get any till the 17th of May, 1871, when I found a nest on a branch of a pine-tree in the " Second Pine-wood," and shot both the old birds, which were very fearless, especially the female, who contained an egg ready for exclusion. The nest had only three eggs in it, and was badly built, being composed of grass and lichens. Verner found this Warbler on
SYLVIA SUBALPINA. 53
8th of May, 1875, breeding in the cork-woods along the base of the Retin Hills ; the nests were on the tops of branches of small cork-trees, about ten feet from the ground.
It would seem that this Warbler must chiefly pass further to the east. They nest around Seville and are common about Madrid ; but I did not ascertain that they bred near Tangier.
Male. General colour above ashy grey ; chin, throat, and underparts white ; outer pair of tail-feathers with outer web white, inner web brown ; next pair white only at tips ; head black ; legs bluish ; irides yellow.
Female. Like male, but the head only slightly darker than back. Length 6 1 inches.
30. Sylvia subalpina, Bonelli. The Subalpine or Chestnut- breasted Warbler.
Favier merely states that " this species occurs near Tangier on passage in March and April, and again in October."
They are not often noticed near Gibraltar ; but I shot one on the 20th March, 1870, and at Tangier on the 26th of March and 27th of April, 1874. Mr. L. P. Irby obtained one at Tangier on the 18th March, 1894. On the 27th of March, 1871, I saw eight or ten among the flowers and trees on the Alameda de Apodaca at Cadiz ; they were exceedingly tame, and I watched them for a long time hopping about in and out among the flowers like a common Wren. One or two were very bright- coloured males. We also saw this Warbler on the 25th of April, 1869, in the Goto del Key. Lord Lilford informs me he found a nest early in May, built in a gum-cistus bush in the Goto del Donana, the eggs being very hard sat-on.
I never had the good fortune to discover a nest ; but they build much in the same manner and situations as S. melano- cephala, the eggs being also very similar to those of that bird.
Owing to the chestnut colour of the throat and breast of the male, this species is very apt to be confounded, when flying and hopping about, with the Dartford Warbler, but the length of
54 TTJRDIDJ3.
the tail, shorter than the wing, easily distinguishes them from that bird.
Male. Above slaty grey ; chin, throat, and breast chestnut; narrow white line from base of bill to shoulder.
Female. Above dull brown; buffy white where chestnut in the male. Eyelids red in both sexes. Length 5 inches.
31. Sylvia melanocephala (Gmelin). The Black - headed Warbler.
Moorish. Shorrir (Favier}. Spanish. Palmera.
" This Warbler is resident and very abundant near Tangier ; some migrate, crossing the Straits during February and March, returning in September. They are to be seen everywhere, nesting in small thorny bushes. The nest is not well built, and is made of strips of plants and blades of grass, without roots ; rarely there is a little wool. It is lined with the down of some cotton-like plant, fine fibres of roots, and a few horse-hairs." They lay from April to July." — Favier.
The Black-headed Warbler, equally common around Gibraltar, is found in all scrub, gardens, and in the midst of woods, scolding with a chattering noise much like that of our common Wren. They might well be named the Gibraltar Warbler, being almost the only species which is a regular resident on the Rock. In habits they much resemble the Blackcap, but are more restless and obtrusive, and consequently more conspicuous ; the contrast between the jet-black head of the adult male and the white throat also renders them more liable to be noticed. There were in different years several nests in my garden, which were carefully preserved ; but what with cats and inquisitive human beings, they seldom succeeded in rearing their young. The earliest egg laid was on the 12th of March ; this was built in a small rose- bush, and was spoiled by a gale of wind, which blew all the eggs out of it, being the only one I ever saw in what could be called an open bush. All the others were placed in thick bushes, generally box, about two to four feet from the ground, and
SYLVIA UNDATA. 55
were formed of grass with a few bits of cotton-thread, lined with hair ; but they also nest at' some height on boughs of trees. The eggs vary in number from three to five. The male assists in incubation.
This bird is, like the Blackcap and Garden-Warbler, very fond of figs and grapes and all kinds of fruit. The feathers at the base of the bill and the throat are often much coloured with the pollen of cactus, aloe, and other flowers, also with the seed of the " pepper- trees."
Tail longer than wing : claws and throat pure white ; eyelids brick-red. Male. General colour above slaty grey ; nape and head black ; below greyish white.
Female. Above brownish ; head nearly black. Length 4^ inches.
32. Sylvia undata (BodJaert). The Dartford or Furze Warbler.
Spanish. Colorin, Caganchina.
" Is resident but not abundant near Tangier. Some migrate to Europe in March, to return in August. It is solitary in habits. They make a clumsy nest of grass and roots, lined with very fine coils of palmetto-fibre, laying in April." — Famer.
The Dartford Warbler is resident and not uncommon in all the scrub-covered hills on the coast near Gibraltar, particularly about San Roque, but is most abundant on the sides of the sierras, nesting in the heather about the 8th of April, on which date Mr. Stark found a nest near Algeciraz with three eggs. There is no doubt they nest at Gibraltar, as they occasionally remain there through the summer.
Upper parts blackish brown ; throat, breast, and sides cliestnut-brown ; feathers of chin and throat tipped with white ; tail long and graduated, half the length of the bird ; eyelids arid iris red in adults, yellow in young. Length 5 inches.
56 TURDID^E.
33. Aedon g-alactodes (Temminck). The Western Rufous Warbler.
Moorish. Houmeira. Spanish. Alzacola, Eubita, Vinadera.
"Abundant in the vicinity of Tangier, arriving in April and May, returning during September, many remaining to breed. Their habits are the same as those of the Nightingale. The nest, large and well built, is placed at some height from the ground, in thick foliage. The eggs, from five to six in number, only differ from Sparrow's eggs in the spots being more reddish. The males assist in incubation." — Favier.
On the Spanish side, this " Cocktail " Warbler, as they may well be called from their well-known habit of continually jerking their tails up, is very plentiful, frequenting sandy lanes hedged with aloes and prickly pears, such as those close to the First Yenta, near Gibraltar. As Favier remarks, they resemble the Nightingale very much in some of their habits, and are at first sight very likely to be mistaken for that bird ; only the Nightingale comes some three weeks or a month earlier.
The Rufous Warblers mostly arrive near Gibraltar between the 1st and 5th of May. The earliest I noticed in 1869 was on the 28th of April, in 1870 on the 29th, in 1871 on the 22ud, and in 1 872 on the 28th of that month, the migration lasting for weeks. They nest about the last fortnight in May.
In places where there are many vineyards (which they frequent) they are known as Vinadera. Alzacola is the local name about Gibraltar ; and " Cocktail " is very nearly a translation of it. " Eufous Sedge- Warbler," as this bird has been called, is most inappropriate, as they are never seen near either water or sedges.
Upper parts pale chestnut-brown. Tail long and graduated ; the two centre feathers rich reddish buff ; the others reddish buff, except the ends, which are black, tipped with white. Length 7 inches.
ACROCEPHALUS STREPERUS. 57
34. Acrocephalus turdoides (Meyer). The Great Reed-
Warbler.
Spanish. Carrizalero ; from " carrizo," reed-grass (Arundo pJiragmites).
This large species, though occurring in Morocco, is not included in Favier's list.
They are exceedingly plentiful in Andalucia, arriving in April, and chiefly frequenting tall reed-beds : they are very noisy, and, like other aquatic Warblers, conceal themselves at the slightest alarm. However, by ensconcing one's self and remaining quiet among the rushes, they are easily obtained, as they soon come out and sit singing and chattering on the top of some tall reed. They nest late in May, and build a nest interwoven with and suspended between reeds, resembling that of the Reed- Warbler (Acro- cephalus streperus), only of course much larger. I have seen them building during the first fortnight in May, picking and carrying away the down of the " bulrush " (Typha latifolia) to use in constructing their nests.
Inside of mouth orange-yellow. Upper parts and tail olive-brown, below pale buff ; centre of belly whitish ; tail graduated and long ; legs pale brown. Length 8 inches.
35. Acrocephalus streperus (Vieillot). The Reed- Warbler.
Not mentioned by Favier as occurring in Morocco ; nor doe Mr. Drake appear to have observed any in that country.
On the Spanish side they appear in spring. The exact date of arrival I could not ascertain ; but it is somewhere about the end of March. I never met with the Reed- Warbler during the winter months ; but in the marshes at Casas Viejas, about the first week in May, we found them breeding in abundance. They keep among the sallow-bushes, but build their beautiful nests suspended on the dead stems of the Epilobium Jiirsutum or willow-herb, which grows in luxuriant tufts in the swampy
58 TUKDID^E.
jungle. These nests are constructed externally of strips of the rind or peel of the dead Jfyilobium-stems interwoven with sallow- cotton, the interior being composed of fine grass lined with the same material. The usual number of eggs was four, of a pale greenish colour, marked all over with ashy spots. One nest we found contained a Cuckoo's egg.
Upper parts olive-brown ; below pale buff ; both distinctly diffused with rufous, most so on rump and upper tail-coverts ; legs and feet slaty brown. Length 5^ inches.
[Acroceplialus palustris (Bechstein). The Marsh-Warbler is said to occur near Granada, but I have never seen a specimen : it nests in drier places than the Keed-Warbler, though near water ; the song and eggs also differ from those of that bird, which it resembles, except having the upper parts olive-greenish without any rufous tinge ; legs and feet pale brown.]
36. Acrocephalus phragmitis (Bechstein). The Sedge- Warbler.
Favier says this is a very rare species near Tangier, that he seldom saw more than one or two on passage, in March or in September.
On the Spanish side I only noticed one in April 1894; but this common English migratory bird is reported from Malaga and Granada.
Upper parts brown, each feather having a dark centre ; crown blackish brown, streaked with lighter brown ; broad buffish-white eye-stripe.
Young. More yellow ; a few dusky streaks on chest. Length 4|-5 inches.
37. Acrocephalus aquations (J. F. Gmelin). The Aquatic Warbler.
This species, mentioned by Mr. Drake as having been met with in Morocco, is found in Andalucia, breeding near Malaga ; but I only saw it once near Gibraltar. Verner found a nest, in
LOCUSTELLA LUSCINIOIDES. 59
May 1875, near Casas Viejas, built on the ground amidst the
Much as last, but is yellower in tint of plumnge and has two hroad dark bands along the crown, with conspicuous pale line down the centre of crown.
38. Locustella naevia (Boddaert). The Grasshopper "Warbler.
Is recorded from Morocco and also from Malaga in winter ; but I did not observe any near Gibraltar.
Above olive-brown, obscurely spotted on back, " like a Lark." Ttdl brown, indistinctly marked with transverse bars of darker brown. Young. Feathers on throat with dark centres. Length 5^ inches.
39. Locustella luscinioides (Savi). Savi's Warbler.
Recorded by Mr. Drake as met with in Morocco.
In Andalucia, I only found them in one situation where once, when snipe-shooting in winter, having noticed some old nests in the sedges which apparently belonged to this species, I made up my mind to try the next spring for them. However, for two years I was unable to do so ; but in 1874 I went to this place in May with two friends, Mr. Stark being one, and we succeeded in finding thirteen nests.
The first nest was found by Mr. Denison, on the 4th of May, and contained four fresh eggs ; the others as follows : — on the 6th, one nest with four fresh eggs ; on the 7th, three nests — one empty (deserted), two with four eggs each, one lot fresh, the other hard sat-on ; on the 8th, one nest procured with three eggs slightly sat-on, and one nest with five fresh eggs ; on the 9th, two nests with four eggs each, all hard sat-on, and one nest with three young fully fledged ; on the llth, one nest with five fresh eggs ; and on the 13th, one nest with two fresh eggs.
By this it will be seen that the time of their breeding is rather variable. I do not like to give the name of the exact locality
CO TURDID.E.
where these birds nest, as Savi's Warbler might suffer in consequence.
The precise time of their arrival I could not ascertain ; but it is about the 1st of April ; and they are all gone by September. The nests, sometimes very near to one another, were most difficult to find, and, without exception, built in places where the mud and water varied in depth from two or three inches to perhaps two feet. All but one were in sedges, so well concealed as only to be found by accident. We spent sometimes the whole day in these marshes, looking in vain, with a gun in one hand and a sickle in the other, the latter used to open the sedges with, as it cut one's fingers severely to try and move them with the hand. What with the hot sun and the stink of the mud, we used to despair utterly after hours of fruitless search, but generally found a nest in the evening. The whole marsh was trodden down by us as if a herd of cattle had been wandering about ; but perhaps the next day, going over the same ground, we would find a nest in a bunch of sedges which had been passed by within a yard. The nests were all alike, loosely and clumsily built, solely constructed of dead sedge, often placed so close to the water that the base was wet ; they were always in the open marsh, none, that we saw, under bushes or in tall rushes or reeds, and the single nest that was not in sedges was in a tuft of the spiky rush so common in wet ground. In this case (the first one, found by Mr. Denison) the bird flew off — the only instance in which it did so, as they creep off generally like a mouse. On one occasion I cut away all the sedge round the nest, except just the patch in which it was built, as I wanted to shoot the bird from the nest to make certain of the identity of the eggs ; but even then, after watching the old bird go in to the nest she would not fly off, but ran across the open space which had been cut away till she gained the shelter of the uncut sedges. Much more frequently seen than Cetti's Warbler, the great difficulty is in finding them when shot. If killed on the wing, it is almost
CETT1A CETTII. 61
hopeless to look for them ; and those that I did obtain I had to thank my dog for finding, though he spoilt one or two. They are most easily to be got in the morning and evening, when the male perches on a sallow bush or tall reed and sings his grasshopper- like song, or rather whir.
We only found them in one particular locality: in other marshes, very similar in appearance, we failed to hear or see them ; and they probably require a very large extent of sedge (Cladium mariscus).
The eggs are of a whitish ground-colour, marked all over with minute spots of brown, thicker at the larger end, often forming a well-marked zone. Sometimes the ground-colour is buff; but there were only two or three of this hue.
Savi's Warbler has been obtained near Seville by Ruiz, and Arevalo records them on passage near Malaga.
Above uniform russet-brown ; chin whitish ; underparts light brown. Tail slightly cuneiform, indistinctly barred with dark brown.
Legs and feet pale brown, the claws darker ; irides olive-brown ; lower mandible dirty white, with dusky tip ; upper one blackish ; inside of mouth of adult pale salmon-colour, that of young bright yellow. Length 6 inches.
40. Lusciniola melanopog-on (Temminck). The Moustached
Swamp-Warbler.
Has been obtained near Malaga ; is common and breeds near Valencia. Inhabits rushy and reedy swamps.
Marked on back much as Sedge-Warbler : crown nearly black, broad white eyebrow, and blackish stripe through eye. First primary half the length of the second. Length 5j inches.
41. Cettia cettii (Marmora). Cetti's Bush- Warbler.
Favier states that " this Warbler is rare near Tangier, and seen on passage in February and March, to return in October." This, however, is quite different from my own observations. They certainly are not rare in spring near Tangier, where, as
62 TURDID.E.
on the Spanish side, wherever there are thick bushes (generally bramble-brakes close to water) Cetti's Warbler is to be heard. Perhaps many migrate ; but at Casas Viejas they are quite as common during the winter months as at any other season, and, somewhat like our own Robin, may be heard singing at all times. Very difficult to see in the breeding-season, in the winter months they do not skulk so much. They are excessively restless, being ever on the move ; and often in the winter, when hidden up in the sotos near Casas Yiejas, have I watched them quite close to me ; but the slightest movement on my part sent them off to the thickest depths of the jungle. In the breeding-season it is almost impossible to catch a glimpse of one.
The only chance of shooting them is at the nest, which is always placed some distance from the ground, generally at a height of about two or three feet, and is either situated in a thick bush or (when in a bushy swamp) constructed, somewhat like the nest of the Reed- Warbler, on the stalks of reeds and Epilolium. These nests, extremely difficult to find, are built of bits of small sedges, intermingled with willow-cotton, and chiefly lined outside with strips of the stems of the Epilolnum, inside with fine grass, a few hairs, and bits of cotton at the top. Those nests built in bushes are chiefly constructed with grass and cotton, and are entirely lined with hair. All the nests are deep and cup-shaped, largest at the base, measuring about 4J inches in height, the inside depth being 2J-, the internal diameter 2f inches. The beautiful pink eggs, which lose much of their beauty when blown, are laid about the end of April, and are usually five in number ; but I have known only three.
The birds are rather irregular as to the time of nesting, as I have seen nests nearly on the point of hatching and others with fresh eggs on the same day (13th of May).
Tail much graduated and of ten feathers, with indistinct bands of dark brown.
Sexes alike, males slightly larger.
Head and upper parts rusty brown. Chin, throat, and centre of belly white. Inside of mouth yellowish. Length 5£ inches.
PHYLLOSCOBUS- RUFUS. 63
42. Phylloscopus sibilatrix (Bechstein). The Wood- Warbler. This species is not mentioned by Favier as occurring near
Tangier, where, however, they are found, though not commonly. On the Spanish side of the Straits it is the scarcest of the four species of Phylloscopus, and was first seen on the 22nd of April. I killed one in my garden at Gibraltar, and some remain during the nesting-season in the Cork-wood, where Verner found a nest on the 25th of June ; but we did not observe them in winter, and were unable to notice the date of their departure south.
Nest domed, but not lined with feathers, like those of P. rufus and P. trochilus, and is always placed on the ground.
The bird is easily distinguished by the streak of bright yellow over the eye and the white colour of the underparts, and is the largest species of the genus found near Gibraltar.
Distinct light streak from base of bill over eye to crown ; white belly, contrasting with yellow breast and throat. Length 5j inches.
43. Phylloscopus bonellii (Vieillot): Bonelli's Willow-
Warbler.
" Found during migration near Tangier, in company with P. rufus and P. trochilus,~but is not so numerous. They return in September." — Favier.
This species, about the size of the Chiffchaff, is found in plenty near Gibraltar, nesting in the fern in the Cork-wood ; the earliest I noticed arriving was on the 1st of April. Verner, on 2nd May, 1877, found a nest in a genista-bush about three feet from the ground.
They are not found in winter.
Head and back olive-brown, with green tinge; rump yellow; breast and belly white ; chin and throat tinged with yellow ; eye-streak greyish white Length 4| inches.
44. Phylloscopus rufus (Bechstein). The Chiffchaff,
Spanish. Mosquilla.
According to Favier this bird is nearly as common as the
TURDID.E.
Willow- Warbler, crossing to Europe in February, March, and April, returning in October and November.
The ChiffchaiF is to be seen throughout the year in the Cork- wood, but is most common from November to March. I found a nest on the 21st April in a bush about six inches from the ground.
The four Spanish species of Phylloscopus all build domed nests, usually on the ground, but occasionally in bushes or fern at an elevation of sometimes two feet or more above the ground; this is particularly the case with Bonelli's Willow- Warbler.
The Chiffchaff is difficult to tell from the common Willow- Warbler, but is always smaller and the legs are darker, being almost black, the eyebrow is not so well defined, and it is a more dull-coloured bird than P. trocliilus. The note is also very different and distinct. The young of all the species are more highly coloured than the adult birds ; but the genus is a very troublesome and perplexing one to the student, and only to be elucidated by observing the different species in a wild state, and listening to their notes. The skins shrink and the colours fade so much that a table-naturalist is much the most puzzled by them.
Above olive-green, below yellowish white. Smaller than next, and duller in plumage. Legs nearly black. Length 4| inches.
45. Phylloscopus trochilus (Linnaeus). The Willow-Warbler.
Moorish. Simriz. Spanish. Mosquilla.
" The most common of Willow- Wrens near Tangier ; crosses the Straits in April, returning in November." — Favier.
There is no doubt, although I did not find a nest, that this species breeds near Tangier. In the vicinity of Gibraltar they are to be found throughout the year in the Cork-wood, where they breed, and I have seen the young able to fly on the 8th of May. Although universally distributed in winter, they are most common when on passage in March and October.
Much as last, but larger and brighter. Legs light Irown. Length 5 inches.
HYPOLAIS OPACA. 65
46. Hypolais polyg-lotta (Vieillot). The Short- wing-ed Yel- low Tree-Warbler.
Spanish. Almendrita de verano.
" Arrives and crosses to Europe in April, returning in August and September, many remaining to nest around Tangier." — Fav ier.
This Yellow Warbler is exceedingly plentiful near Gibraltar, being one of the latest of the spring arrivals ; the first observed was on the 25th of April, and the earliest date on which eggs were found was on the 14th of May. The birds frequent trees and bushes, especially willows and sallows ; and the nest, neatly built and cup-shaped, in a great measure composed of sallow- cotton and thistle-down, is placed in bushes, and usually contains four pinkish-tinged eggs, marked with blackish spots.
This bird was figured by Yarrell as the Melodious Willow- Warbler (H. icterina), a slightly larger species.
First primary small, but longer than the primary coverts ; in H. icterina it is scarcely as long, but the wing is longer.
Above olive-green ; below lemon-yellow ; lores yellow ; secondaries broadly margined with buffish white. The inside of the mouth bright orange-yellow. Length 4£ inches.
47. Hypolais opaca (Lichtenstein) . The Western Pallid Warbler.
" This Warbler is nearly the same in size as H. polyglotta, but somewhat larger, and identical with that bird in habits, times of arrival and departure, and also in manner of nesting. They build on trees, bushes, and small plants, laying in May or the beginning of June." — Favier.
This Pallid Warbler is the latest of all the spring migrants that arrive in Anclalucia, being a little later than H. polyglotta. They are much more plentiful eastward of Gibraltar than in the immediate vicinity, where they are rare. Another species,
F
66 TURDIDJS.
H. olivetomm, is stated to have been met with at Tangier and Fez, but did not come under my observation, and, being found in S.E. Europe and Asia Minor, is not likely to occur.
Above olive-brown ; tail darker brown ; throat and centre of belly white ; the rest below buffy white. Length 5£ inches.
Subfamily REGULIN^.
48. Regulus- cristatus, K. L. Koch. The Gold-crested "Wren.
I have never met with this bird in Andalucia, where they have been recorded as common, and Lord Lilford informs me that he never obtained an Andalucian specimen. Possibly they may occur irregularly, like the Siskin — that is to say, not in all winters consecutively. Arevalo says they have been found near Malaga and Granada.
Male. General colour above olive-green, a black streak on each side of the orange-coloured crown.
female. Less bright than male. Length 3^ inches.
49. Regulus ignicapillus (0. L. Brehm). The Fire-crested Wren.
This species is resident and common in the Cork-wood and in the wooded valleys at the back of Algeciraz, coming as near to Gibraltar as the Malaga Gardens, close to San Roque. They nest rather early, the young being able to fly on the 15th of May.
Male. Much as last, but whitish streak over the eye, and a third black streak through eye to the olive-green nape ; crown flame-coloured. Female. Less bright than male. Length 4 inches.
TIMELIID^E. 67
Family TIMELIID^]. Subfamily BRACHYPODIIN^.
50. Pycnonotus barbatus (Desfontaines). The White-vented Bulbul.
Moorish. Bou lag-lag.
" Is very abundant and resident around Tangier. When the oranges are ripe, they are always to be heard and seen chattering and fighting in the gardens. They nest in May, June, and July, laying from three to four eggs, which are very thin-shelled and tender, of a greyish-white colour, marbled or spotted with reddish spots of two or three shades of brown and purple. The nest is built in the branches of fruit-trees (orange-, apricot-, pear-, &c.), and is shaped like those of the Woodchat Shrike, coarsely interlaced outside with ends of small roots and with creeping plants. They feed on all kinds of fruit and different flowers, are very fond of oranges, and prefer them to anything else.
" This species is subject to variations, as I have seen two which had the head, breast, and neck brown, with white spots, while the wings, back, and tail were brownish red, the rest being dirty white." — Favier.
In accordance with Favier's statement, this Dusky Bulbul was found in great plenty about the gardens just outside Tangier. They were shy ; but one day in March I stalked up to and watched for some time a lot of seven or eight in the Belgian Consul's garden. They were squabbling and playing with one another on a Persian lilac or common bead- tree, the seeds of which they were pecking at; and they reminded me much of some of the Indian Babblers (Crateropus), particularly in their flight and garrulous chattering. Besides this noise they have a melodious whistle, which I took down at the time and tried to note thus — Pwit, Pivit, Quiterd, Qiiiterd, rather in the tone of a Blackbird. This song, if it may be so called, and their chatter are so remarkable as to attract attention at once.
F2
68 TIMELIID^E.
I took a good deal of pains to ascertain the correct local Arabic name, which is " Bon lag-lag " ; and as no one could tell me the meaning of the latter part, I conclude it is suggestive of their cry, or rather clacking : one of the Arabic names of the White Stork is " Bou lak-lak," from the noise made by the clacking their bills.
Among the Jews, who speak Spanish, they go by the name of " Naranjero " (litt. " The orange-man "), from their orange-eating propensities. They make a small hole in the side of an orange and completely clean it out, leaving nothing but a .shell of orange-peel, which remains hanging on the tree. I have more, than once pulled these husks down, thinking them to be sound fruit. Owing to the mischief they thus do, they are not favourites, and consequently are more timid near Tangier than about Larache, where we shot some of them.
We were informed that they do not breed till the end of May, and so had no opportunity of studying their nesting-habits. In the end of April, near Larache, they were evidently not then nesting ; and, as at Tangier, all those which we saw were near gardens and villages.
Mr. Meade- Waldo found them in February 1892, out in the open, feeding on the flower of the Asphodel.
This Bulbul certainly does not occur in the western part of Andalucia ; I have tried everywhere for it. If found anywhere, the coast near Tarifa would be the most likely ground ; but in the orange-groves there, the Spaniards, when asked if there was a bird like the " mirlo " which ate oranges, simply looked on me as more "loco" than the generality of "los Ingleses," who, in their opinion, are all mad, and disclaimed any knowledge of a " naran- jero " in the shape of a bird of such size. The Great Titmouse, however, they say eats oranges, but not unless the skin is broken.
Sexes alike. General colour dull brown, except the white belly and under tail-coverts, the latter sometimes faintly tinged with yellow. Length 8 inches, tail 4 inches.
CISTICOLA CURSITANS. 69
Subfamily CISTICOL^E.
51. Cisticola cursitans (Frankland). The Fantail or Grass- Warbler.
Moorish. Bou-fesaha (Father of eloquence). Spanish. Cierra- puiio, Tin-Tin, Biutrecillo, Trepatorres, Buitron.
" Is the most common of the aquatic Warblers around Tangier, and seen migrating in lots of from ten to twelve during March and April, returning in October, November, and December. Many remain to breed, nesting twice in the season." — Favier.
This diminutive Grass- Warbler is resident near Gibraltar, and exceedingly plentiful in the winter, frequenting marshy ground wherever there is any herbage, such as grass, sedges, or short rushes. In the spring they go to the corn-fields as well, never, however, being found away from water. I do not recollect ever seeing them perch on a bush or tree, but always on some plant. Their note and jerky flight somewhat remind one of the Meadow- Pipit ; during the nesting-season in particular they will fly darting about high overhead for several minutes, continually uttering their squeaky single note (whence the name of Tin-Tin), all the time evidently trying to decoy the intruder from their nest. They undoubtedly breed twice a year — according to the Spaniards, three times. I have found the young well able to fly, and a nest with eggs ready to hatch, on the same day, the 19th of April ; an unfinished nest on the 8th of May, and a nest with eggs very hard sat-on on the 10th of that month.
The nest much resembles the caterpillars' webs which are common on pine-trees in some parts of Andalucia ; any one would take them for the web of an insect ; but they are very troublesome to find, and made of the cotton of plants and thistle-down, with small bits of grass beautifully sewn and interwoven with the corn or grass in which the nest is built ; the entrance is at
rU PANURID^E.
the top, the bottom being the broadest part, the whole length about five inches. The usual number of eggs is five, generally of a pale blue ; but, as is well known, they vary strangely in colour.
Sexes alike. Tail much graduated. Inside of mouth black ; irides very pale brown. Crown and back streaked with black and buff. Below buffisli white ; flanks rufous. Length 4^ inches, tail If inches.
CRATEROPODES.
52. Argya fulva (Desfontaines) . The North - African Babbler.
This Babbler is mentioned by Mr. Drake as occurring in the southern part of Morocco, but does not appear ever to have come under Favier's notice in the northern part.
Sexes alike. Bill stout and strongly curved.
General colour rufous fawn. Chin and throat white. Length 10 inches, tail 5 inches.
PANURID^l.
53. Panurus biarmicus (Linnaeus). The Bearded Reedling-.
This reed-frequenting bird is found at the Albufera near Valencia, but I have no certain evidence of its occurrence nearer to Gibraltar.
Tail fawn-coloured, about three inches long, graduated, and slightly curving downwards.
Male. Bill yellow ; head grey ; black moustachial stripe. General colour above tawny buff.
Female. Paler ; no moustachial stripe ; head fawn-colour.
Young. Like female, but head and back slightly striped with black. Length 6 inches.
PARID.E. 71
PARID.E.
54. Acredula irbii, Sharpe and Dresser. The Spanish Long-
tailed Tit.
Spanish. Mito.
This little bird, a climatic race of our British A. caudata (or, as separatists have it, rosea), is only to be found around Gibraltar in the Cork-wood of Almoraima, chiefly keeping to the sotos and to the district round the Mill, the Long Stables, and the second venta. Similar in its habits to the British form, the nest and eggs are also exactly the same as those of that bird. I found the young able to fly by the middle of April, and on the 12th of that month found a nest with seven young fully fledged ; this would make the date of laying about the 20th of February. The nests, without exception, were all built in the thorny creeper, a species of Smilax, called Zarzaparilla by the Spaniards, which forms regular net- or lattice-work walls from the ground to the lower branches of the trees, and are usually placed about 15-16 feet from the ground and very difficult to get at, the only way being either to cut or shoot away the creepers above them — often no easy matter. The only eggs obtained were addled ones, left in nests from which the young had flown.
The adults differ from the British and North-European races in having the entire back bluish grey.
Crown black, with whitish stripe along the centre. Length 5^ inches, tail 3| inches.
55. Parus major, Linnseus. The Great Tit.
Spanish. Quive-vive, Carpintero, Carbonero, Cerrajero, Guer- rero.
Favier considers this species to be extremely scarce near Tangier, but specimens have been obtained there in winter, and Mr. Meade-Waldo saw plenty on the 27th of February, 1892.
72 PAEID^E.
On the Spanish side of the Straits they are extremely plentiful, and to be heard wherever there are any trees, nesting in April in holes of the cork-trees. There is a great increase of their numbers in winter, when they visit the Alameda and gardens at Gibraltar, being the only observed Calpeian representative of the Tits.
Male. Crown bluish black ; cheeks white ; black stripe along the middle of the greenish-yellow breast and belly.
Female. Similar, but black stripe below not so extended. Length 6 inches.
56. Parus cseruleus, Linnseus. The Blue Tit.
Spanish. Herrerillo (Little smith).
The Blue Tit is very common in Andalucia, being resident and particularly abundant in the Cork-wood of Almoraima, generally nesting (about the middle of April) in the decayed hollow branches of the cork-trees.
In April 1894, at Retin, I saw a pair of these birds going in and out of a dome-shaped nest, constructed externally of small sticks, which they had either built or enlarged, at the end of a horizontal bough of a cork-tree. It looked like a miniature Magpie's nest, and I could, when it was first found, see the light through : unable to reach it without a ladder, I left for Gibraltar, and Verner, who remained behind for a few days, reported that ultimately they began to dismantle the nest and carry the materials to some more usual situation.
Spanish specimens are very bright in colour — one or two so much so that, until I had seen a specimen of Parus tenerffce, I imagined them to be that species.
Crown and wing-coverts azure-blue. Length 4^ inches.
57. Parus teneriflfee, Less. The Ultramarine Tit.
Moorish. Bou rezizi (Father of the little turban).
" Is resident near Tangier, but less frequent in December and
PAKUS CRISTATUS. 73
January than during other months. They nest in holes of trees, in April, laying from four to five eggs, white, with very small red spots, similar to those of Parus cceruleus, which they replace in Morocco, and appear to be a variety of that bird constant to this climate." — Favier.
I have never been able to detect the Ultramarine Tit on the Spanish, nor seen the Blue Tit on the Moorish side of the Straits, where the present species is plentiful, their habits &c. being identical.
The African bird is easily recognized by the greyish-blue back and the deep blackish blue on the crown of the head, as well as on those parts which are cobalt-blue in the European species.
58. Parus ater, Linnaeus. Trie European Coal-Tit.
I never met with this species, which, however, is recorded from Granada, Cordova, and Malaga by Arevalo.
The Algerian Coal-Tit (Parus ledouci] in all probability is to be met with in Morocco. This bird has those parts of the head and nape of the neck lemon-yellow which are white in P. ater, the under surface being also lemon-yellow.
Head black ; nape and cheeks white ; wing-coverts tipped with white, forming two bars on the wing ; back bluish gre.y in winter. Length 4£ inches.
59. Parus palustris, Linnaeus. The Marsh-Tit.
I did not observe this bird near Gibraltar, but Mr. Saunders, Mr. Stark, and Arevalo all report it from near Granada.
Back greyish brown ; crown, chin, throat, and nape glossy black. Length 4^ inches.
60. Parus cristatus, Linnaeus. The Crested Tit.
Spanish. Capuchino.
The Crested Tit is resident and common in the Cork-wood of Almoraima, in all the neighbouring pine-woods, and in the valleys and on the hill-sides at the back of Algeciraz up to near
74 SITTID^E.
Tarifa, wherever the cork-tree grows ; but singularly is not found in the Sierra Retin, or in the Sierra Bartolome. They nest about the 10th of May, in the hollow ends of boughs of the cork- and pine-trees, the eggs being about five in number, much spotted, and resembling strongly those of the Creepei(Certhiafamilians). There is reason to think the species occurs in Morocco, but this is only mentioned with the view of directing the attention of future collectors there, in order that they may look out for them.
General colour greyish brown ; throat black ; crown dull black, all the feathers tipped and edged with white, and the hinder feathers long and pointed, forming a conspicuous crest. Length 4£ inches.
61. -iEglthalus pendulirms (Linnseus). The Penduline Tit.
Spanish. Pajaro moscon.
Specimens of this bird have been procured near Malaga ; further east they are more common, building their retort-shaped nest at the extremity of boughs, generally of poplars.
Bill short, straight, and much pointed.
Crown and nape greyish white ; forehead and sides of head black. Above chestnut-brown ; throat white ; rest of underparts creamy. Length 4^ inches.
SITTIDJE.
62. Sitta csesia, Wolf. The Common Nuthatch.
This bird, our British Nuthatch, was not mentioned by Favier, but Capt. S. Reid mentions five or six having been obtained by Olcese near Tangier about 1883.
On the Spanish side, Mr. Saunders records them to be common near Granada, as also does Arevalo, stating them to be resident. We did not meet with any near Gibraltar.
Bill longer than head. Above slaty grey ; throat whitish ; rest of underparts cinnamon-buff, lightest next the throat ; legs dull brown. Length 5| inches.
TROGLODYTID.E. 75
CERTHIIDJE.
63. Certhia familiaris, Linnaeus. The Tree-Creeper.
Spanish. Barba-jelena, Trepa-troncas, Aranero.
The Tree-Creeper is resident and common in the Cork-wood and in the valleys near Algeciraz, nesting in April.
A single specimen was shot near Tangier about the 20th of April, the only one I heard of on the African side.
Bill slender, curved downwards, and pointed. Above brown, spotted with paler brown ; below white. Tail graduated or cuneiform, reddish brown, with stiff points. Length 5 inches.
64. Tichodroma muraria, Linnaeus. The Rock-Creeper.
I have never met with this bird, which is recorded from near Antiquera, Gaitan, and the Sierra Nevada, and is stated to have been seen at Gibraltar many years ago.
General colour slate-grey ; all the primaries, except the first three, crimson on the basal half of the outer web ; throat black in summer, white in winter ; bill as in last, but longer in proportion. Length 6 inches.
TROGLODYTID.E.
65. Troglodytes parvulus, K. L. Koch. The Wren.
Spanish. Cucito, Katilla.
" Resident near Tangier, and numerous, nesting from March to June. Some are migratory, arriving in November, and leaving again in February." — Favier.
The above remarks equally apply to the Wren on the Spanish side, where they are most abundant, nesting very early ; and I have seen young fully able to fly on the 26th of April, and they are resident on " the Rock."
It is very curious that this little bird should be a resident in
76 ORIOLID^E.
the scorching sun of Morocco and Andalucia as well as in the bitter cold of the hills in Inverness-shire, where they are one of the very few birds which remain to brave the winter.
Above reddish brown ; breast whitish brown ; tail closely barred with black, and much more rufous than back. Hind toe as long or longer than middle toe. Length 4 inches.
CINCLID.E.
66. Cinclus albicollis (Vieillot). The Grey-backed Dipper or "Water-Ouzel.
Spanish. Tordo de agua, Pechiblanco.
Occurs in the streams of the Sierras, and is resident. I have seen them near the waterfall beyond Algeciraz, where Mr. Stark found a nest about the 17th of May ; but they are not abundant anywhere.
Resembles the English Chestnut- breasted Dipper, C. aquaticus, except that the back is paler and the head lighter, and it can only be considered a climatic race of that species. Length 7 inches.
ORIOLIDJE.
67. Oriolus galbula, Linnaeus. The Golden Oriole.
Moorish. Tair es sfar (Yellow bird). Spanish. Oropendola.
According to Favier the Golden Oriole " crosses the Straits in great numbers during April and May, returning in July, August, and September." These dates much agree with my own obser- vations on the Spanish side, I having first seen them in 1869 on the 21st of April, in 1870 on the 18th, in 1871 on the 4th (one only), and in 1872 on the llth : many passed on the 16th in that year. The spring migration lasts up to the 14th or 15th of May. Some few pairs remain to breed in the vicinity of Gibraltar ; but the majority pass further north and resort to fruit-producing districts, where they get the credit of doing much damage to
STURNID^E. 77
cherries, mulberries, &c., but at the same time they eat cater- pillars and other insects.
Almost entirely a fruit-eating bird ; those who have kept them alive informed me that they could not preserve them through the winter — nor, indeed, longer than fruit was to be obtained.
When the Japanese loquats (Eriolotrya japonica) were ripe in my garden at Gibraltar in May 1870, Golden Orioles remained about as long as the loquats lasted, but would not admit of much observation, as they were very shy and difficult to watch. They are more often heard than seen ; and I have spent hours in trying to get a shot as they skulked in the thickest foliage of tall trees, continually piping their flute-like note.
Some are always to be heard during May near the Mill and the " Second Veuta " in the Cork-wood ; and a pair usually frequented the lower part of the First Pine-wood. I found one nest in the middle of May, built at the very extremity of a bough at the top of a high oak tree, which was impossible to obtain without cutting the branch off. Verner remarks also that the Golden Oriole has a habit of, when disturbed, flying into the thickest green-foliaged tree, not settling on cork-trees, in which the foliage is scanty.
Male. Head and general colour golden yellow. Black spot between crimson eye and dull red bill ; wings black, with yellow tips to secondaries. Tail : outer feathers with more than terminal half yellow.
Female. Greenish yellow above ; outer tail-feathers tipped with yellow. 1 have never seen a female Golden Oriole in same plumage as male.
Young. Greenish yellow above ; below whitish tinged with yellow ; breast slightly streaked with brown ; the black parts of adult male replaced by greenish brown. Length 9 inches.
STURNID53.
68. Sturnus vulg-aris, Linnaeus. The Common Starling.
Moorish. Zarzor. Spanish. Estornino.
" This bird arrives about Tangier in large flights from October
78 STURNID^E.
to January, departing in March. During the autumnal migration the flights are often mixed up with S. unicolor. In October, 1842, a Moor brought to Tangier about three hundred and fifty Starlings, which he affirmed he had caught at one time in a net ; about half of these birds were S. unicolor." — Favier.
In Andalucia, the Common Starling may be said, roughly speaking, to come and go with the Golden Plover. The earliest date noticed of their arrival was the 15th of October, the latest date on which any were seen being the 1st of March. I have a note of seeing many thousands passing southwards in successive flights on the 28th of October. During the winter months they are seen in swarms about low ground ; and the Spaniards shoot immense numbers at their roosting-places in the reed-beds near Vejer and Casas Viejas. Consequently, during their stay, Starlings form a very cheap and, it may be fairly said, nasty dish in all the ventorillas in the vicinity.
Male. Black, with purple and green gloss, small buff tips to feathers above. Head, throat, and breast with green gloss.
Female. Similar to male, but less brightly marked.
In ivinter, all the feathers of upper parts tipped with buff, those below tipped with whitish.
Young in first plumage. Uniform greyish brown ; throat dull white ; lower parts clouded with white. Length 8^ inches.
69. Sturnus unicolor, Temminck. The Spotless Starling".
Moorish. Zarzor kahal (Black Starling). Spanish. Tordo.
" This Starling is very abundant around Tangier, passing north in March and returning during the month of September, many, however, remaining to breed." — Favier.
The Sardinian Starling, as the species has been termed, Spotless Starling being a more appropriate and distinctive name, is almost entirely migratory in Andalucia ; but I have seen them there in December. Not so abundant as the Common Starling, they resemble that bird in their habits and note, nesting about
PASTOE KOSEUS. 79
the end of April in roofs of houses in towns, and they make use of the old Moorish towers, besides building in holes of trees ; the eggs exactly resemble those of 8. vulgar is. They are more common some sixty miles north of Gibraltar than in the imme diate vicinity. 'Three or four pairs used to frequent the Venta at Casas Viejas, and during November and December nearly every morning assembled on the roof, whistling and pluming themselves before going forth for the day. The amo, or landlord, well known as " old Bernardo," begged me not to molest them — a request I most scrupulously complied with ; but on my return there in 1874, they were absent, probably killed by some of the shooting visitors from Gibraltar. Whether the death of the old man caused them to lack protection I cannot say. This old fellow, who had served as a sergeant in the Spanish army, and was present at the defence of Tarifa in 1811, was a fine specimen of the Spaniard, and used to tell wonderful stories of his soldiering days. I regret that since his decease the Venta has changed for the worse, both in prices and accommodation.
Head and back uniform. No spots in breeding-plumage, but in winter all the body-feathers are tipped with arrow-shaped spots of greyish white. Length 8^ inches.
70. Pastor roseus (Linnaeus) . The Rose-coloured Starling.
The Rose-coloured Pastor, as it used to be termed, is an occasional wanderer from the East to Andalucia, and has been obtained near Seville and Malaga.
Male. Head black, with crest of pointed and elongated feathers ; back, scapulars, rump, breast, sides, and belly rosy pink; wings, tail, and thiglis black ; bill rose-coloured, black at base.
Female. Crest smaller and less bright.
Young. Crest absent ; colour greyish brown, where rosy in adults. Length 8^ inches.
80 CORVID^E.
GORVID^l.
71. Pyrrhocorax graculus (Linnaeus). The Red-billed
Chough.
Moorish. Narrar. Spanish. Graja.
This species is stated by Favier to be found in large nights near Tetuan — a statement we can fully corroborate. We also saw a great many about the cliffs of Abyla, or Apes' Hill, opposite to Gibraltar.
In the rocky sierras of Andalucia the Red-billed Chough is plentiful, particularly about Ubrique. They are, of course, resident ; but I am unable to state the time of nidification.
Jet-black, with steel gloss ; the curved bill, eyelids, legs, and feet red. Length 14-17 inches.
72. Pyrrhocorax alpinus, Vieillot. The Yellow - billed
Chough.
Although there is no record of the occurrence of this Chough on the African side, at Apes' Hill, in 1877, a bird flew so close to us that we thought we could distinguish the yellow bill.
On the Spanish side they occur near Granada, and at the Taj os del Gaitan, Malaga.
Plumage and size as last, but bill yellow and slightly shorter.
[Nucifrag'a oaryooatactes (Linnaeus). The Nutcracker.
I never met with this pine-forest bird on either side of the Straits, though there was one in a collection at Cordova ; but from what locality was not stated ; so, until further evidence be obtained, the species cannot with certainty be included as an Andalucian bird. It has been recorded from Estremadura by Captain Cook Widdrington, and possibly may be found in some of the high ranges, where Pinus cembra grows.]
GAKRULUS GLAN DARIUS. 81
Head dark brown ; general colour clove-brown, most of the feathers of breast, sides, and underparts spotted with a triangular white mark. Rump and upper tail-coverts uniform brown. Tail blackish, tipped with white. Length 14 inches.
73. Garrulus glandarius (Linnseus). The "West-European Jay.
Spanish. Arrendajo.
This British Jay is not record3d by Favier from Morocco ; nor did I obtain any species of Jay on the African side ; but Captain Savile Reid, in February 1883, brought home a specimen, one of three obtained by Olcese near Tangier. The Editors of the ' Ibis,' 1885, p. 246, examined this bird, and considered it a cross between G. glandarius and G. cervicalis. We may reasonably assume that they sometimes cross the Straits, as they occasionally appear at Gibraltar in winter. Four frequented the Alameda and other gardens in the south from about the 10th of November, 1870, to the 4th of April, 1871 ; and I saw another in March, 1872 ; this last bird did not linger about for more than a few days.
This Jay is very plentiful near Gibraltar in the Cork-wood, and in the wooded valleys and hill-sides up to a considerable elevation. At the same time it is rather local ; and though many are resident, they are more abundant in the winter months.
They nest in some numbers in the Cork-wood, laying their eggs early in May ; and, at that season particularly, they are easily decoyed within shot by secreting one's self in thick cover and imitating either their call or the squeal of a wounded rabbit.
Throat white ; crown with black streaks ; feathers of forehead and crown edged with white ; back vinaceous ; outer web of wing-coverts barred with blue and Hack, inner web black ; tail often barred slightly at the basal end in the same manner as the outer web of wing-coverts (this is not the result of age, birds in first plumage occasionally being so marked) ; iris pale blue. Length 14 inches.
82 COKVID^E.
74. Garrulus cervicalis, Bonaparte. Algerian Black-headed
Jay.
Mr. Meade-Waldo found this bird on the Moorish side of the Straits, and brought home several ; he describes it as chiefly a mountain bird, with a voice different to that of G. glandarius.
Crown with thick black crest ; nape and fore part of back vinous rufous ; space round eye white. Length 14 inches.
75. Pica rustica (Scopoli). The Common Magpie. Spanish. Urraca, Marica.
Our British Magpie is extremely local in Andalucia ; but where met with is very abundant ; they do not, however, occur to the south of Seville, except on the banks of the Guadalquivir to below Coria, as far as there are any trees and bushes. Great numbers frequent the Goto del Hey, where they breed in the beginning of May, accommodating the Great Spotted Cuckoo with their nests. The Spanish bird undoubtedly runs into the African form P. mauritanica.
Long graduated iridescent green tail ; rump greyish white. Length 16-18 inches, tail 10-11.
76. Pica mauritanica, Malh. The North- African Magpie.
Arabic. Akaka.
This species, which, however, I failed to meet with in Morocco, is the Magpie of the country, and perhaps is very local, for Mr. Drake describes it as abundant in parts he visited.
Is distinguished from P. rustica by the bare space behind the eye and by the black rump, both species being otherwise identical in size and markings.
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77. Cyanopica cooki, Bonaparte. The Spanish Azure-winged Magpie.
Spanish. Mohino rabilargo, Mohino.
This species is peculiar to the Peninsula, but does not occur in the vicinity of Gibraltar. The nearest locality to that place
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CORVUS MONEDULA. 83
where they are to be found is about Coria del Rio, below Seville ; thence, as far as the Goto del Rey, they occur in tolerable numbers, but are much more common towards Cordova, and are reported to be very numerous in some parts of Estremadura, being, however, a very local bird.
The nests which I have seen were built on boughs at no great height from the ground, rather clumsily constructed with small sticks, grass, moss, and wool — containing five eggs ; but as many as seven are frequently found. They are well figured in ' The Ibis' (1866, p. 382, pi. x. figs. 3-8), from specimens obtained by Lord Lilford in 1864. and vary a great deal in colour and markings, the commonest form being of a stony-buff colon?* marked with purplish and brown spots. I kept four of these birds, reared from the nest, for some time alive, feeding them on grapes, figs, bread, beetles, and grasshoppers. Always placing the insects under their feet, they picked them to pieces much as a Hawk or an Owl tear their prey. They became very tame and amusing ; but during my temporary absence, unluckily, all died.
I never heard of this bird on the Moorish side of the Straits.
The sexes are alike in plumage.
78. Corvus monedula, Linnaeus. The Jackdaw.
Spanish. Graja.
Mr. Drake mentions having met with the Jackdaw near Tetuan, where I did not see any, nor find them anywhere on the African side. Favier also omits the bird from his list.
On the Spanish side of the Straits they are extremely local, the only locality in which I have seen any being the Goto del Rey, near Seville, where, in 1870, they were common, nesting about the end of April in holes of trees, one or two pairs building in the roof of the Palacio. Jackdaws are also said to be abundant near Granada.
Black ; ear-coverts, nape, and sides of neck grey ; belly leaden black. Youny. Little or no grey on nape. Length 14 inches.
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84 CORV1D.E.
79. Corvus corax, Linnaeus. The Raven.
Spanish. Cuervo.
The Raven is found sparingly but very generally distributed on the Spanish side of the Straits, but does not seem to be found on the Moorish side. They are resident, and usually commence to lay about the middle of March, thus, very curiously, breeding later in Andalucia than in England or further north. Verner found, on the 24th of May, 1878, a nest with young just hatched, a few days earlier one with fledged birds, whilst in 1886, at Crete, he took fresh eggs of Ravens on 26th of March, when other nests had eggs or were ready for eggs.
One pair nest at Gibraltar, and, as customary with Ravens, are the terror of all birds that approach their domain. Another pair nest at Casas Viejas, in the old quarry called La Cima, just outside the village.
In no case that I have seen have their nests been in anything like proximity to one another, the reverse being the case with Corvus tingitanus.
General colour glossy steel-black ; throat-feathers pointed ; tail slightly cuneate. Length 24 inches.
80. Corvus tingitanus, Irby. The Tangier Raven.
Moorish. Grab.
This species or race appears to me to be quite distinct from C. corax, and was noticed and described in 'The Ibis,' 1874 (p. 264).
Smaller than the Common Raven, C. corax, its note is different, while its very gregarious habits are opposed to those of our common Raven ; and it is the Raven of the Canary Islands.
Many specimens are very much marked with rusty brown on the wings and tail, others very slightly so. In all that I have seen there is a tinge of brown on the wings — not that this coloration is of any consequence in determining it as a distinct species. They also breed later than C. corax does on the Spanish side.
COBVUS TINGITANUS. 85
This Raven is exceedingly abundant around Tangier and along the coast as far as some distance south of Larache. We did not observe any in the high parts about Apes' Hill. Outside Tangier, flocks of them may be seen feeding on the refuse which is carried from the town and thrown on the sea-shore. They are exceedingly tame to the natives, being viewed with superstitious awe by the Moors, but are wide awake to the European, especially if he carries a gun, and if once fired at are not likely to give a second chance. The only way to be sure of getting them is at their nest, which, constructed of sticks, neatly lined with grass and small roots, is built in clefts of rocks, on trees and in low bushes ; one nest which I saw was fixed in the crook or angle formed by a dead flowering stalk of the aloe (Agave americana), which had fallen across another stalk in full flower.
The eggs are usually laid about the 20th of April, and vary in number from five to seven, and, like those of others of the Crow tribe, differ much in the markings. Favier in his MS. says of this Raven, under the head of C. corax, " This species is another of those birds for which the Mahometans evince a superstitious feeling, the liver, tongue, brain, and heart of the Raven being considered antidotes against the effects of the evil one ; the same virtues are attributed to the feathers and heart of the Hoopoe. The Raven is the only species of Crow found in the neighbourhood of Tangier, and is very abundant."
It seems that this African Raven crosses the Straits, as Verner reports having, near Gibraltar, taken a nest, apparently of this bird, but was unable to trap or shoot an old bird. He also reports having seen " small Ravens," and " forty small Ravens were seen together near Tarifa," " fifty Ravens were seen together " on the 29th of April, 1880, near the 1st River; while another officer noticed forty-two together near Palmones on 23rd of April.
Resembles the Common Raven, but has the throat-hackles not so long, and is much smaller in size. Length 18*5 inches, wing 14*5, tail 8, tarsus 2*5, bill from gape 2'5.
86 CORVID.E.
81. Corvus corone, Linnaeus. The Carrion-Crow.
Spanish. Gragilla.
Not mentioned by Favier, but is included by Mr. Drake in his list of the birds of Morocco ; I never met with any on the African side. On the Spanish side the Black Crow is scarce, and I only remember one nest, which was taken near Utrera during the month of March ; another pair nested near Motril in 1893 (Mena).
Black, with metallic gloss ; nostrils covered with bristly feathers ; base of body-feathers whitish. Length 18-19 inches.
82. Corvus cornix, Linnaeus. The Hooded or Grey Crow.
Not recorded from the Moorish side of the Straits. Saunders mentions the Hooded Crow as having been met with in Andalucia ; there was one in a museum at Seville, but upon inquiry it proved to be from France. I never observed any, and the Grey Crow must be a very rare straggler, as Arevalo does not mention it as Andalucian.
Head, throat, wings, thighs, and tail-feathers black ; the rest of plumage dull grey. Length 18-19 inches.
83. Corvus frugilegus, Linnaeus. The Rook.
On the Moorish side of the Straits I can find no record of the occurrence of the Rook. I never met with any near Gibraltar, or, indeed, further south than the Goto del Rey, in the neigh- bourhood of Seville, where there were several large flocks in January ; and they appear to be there regular winter visitants.
Black, with blue gloss.
Adults. With bare scurfy skin on forehead, lores, and throat.
Young in first plumage have these parts feathered, and resemble young Carrion-Crows, but the bases to the body-feathers are grey and the bill is slender. Length 18-20 inches.
LANIID.E. 87
L A N 1 1 D $1 . Young barred below.
84. Lanius meridionalis, Temminck. The Spanish Grey
Shrike.
Spanish. Alcaudon real.
This Shrike is scarce in the neighbourhood of Gibraltar, the few specimens I have seen there having occurred in autumn only. Further north, though rather local, they become common in many places, being abundant and resident in the scrubby jungle near Seville. They nest, about the 15th of April, in bushes and low trees, building a large nest, the internal diameter measuring some five inches. When placed on a bough, the lower half is some- times made of mud, the upper half being constructed with rough grass lined with fine grass, the whole covered outside with lichens and bits of Cudweed (GnaphaUum luteo-album] — the same plant so much used by the Woodchat and many other birds. The eggs are from four to five in number. At one time I was under the erroneous impression that these birds were migratory, from having seen one or two near Gibraltar in autumn; but, never having seen or heard of them on the African side, must have been mistaken ; besides, they were more numerous about the Goto del Key in winter than in May. However, this tends to show that they shift their ground in Spain, though not migrating out of the country.
Sexes alike. Above bluish grey ; below with rosy tinge, except the grey flanks ; narrow white stripe from forehead over eye. Length 9 inches.
85. Lanius algeriensis, Lesson. The Algerian Grey Shrike.
Moorish. Bou-serund (Favier).
Favier's remarks, which under the synonym "meridionalis" refer to this species, do not add anything to the following notes. This Shrike, which would be more fitly named the North-west-
88 LANIIDJ3.
African Shrike, as it is not peculiar to Algeria, is not common in the immediate vicinity of Tangier ; but a little further south, near Larache, and towards the Fondak on the road to Tetuan they are very abundant. Their habits, nests, and eggs are identical with those of L. meridionalis, their Spanish repre- sentative, and they are only met with in scrubby jungle. On the 18th of April we found one nest in a thick lentiscus bush, with five eggs, which were hard sat-on, and another on the 20th, with only three fresh eggs.
This species is distinguishable from the Spanish Grey Shrike by the grey colour of the underparts.
Plumage black, white, and grey.
Above dark bluish grey ; below grey ; no white streak over eye. Length 9^ inches.
86. Lanius minor, J. F. Grmelin. The Lesser Grey Shrike.
This small migratory Shrike is said to have been obtained at Lanjaron (Arevalo], but Lord Lilford informs me (1894) that he never met with it in Andalucia and that his record of the bird there was an error. It is reported to occur in the east of Spain.
First primary very short, less than one third of second ; tail even. Male. Above grey ; forehead and feathers from bill, round eye to ear- coverts, black ; breast and flanks with a roseate blush. Wing-bar white. female. Less black on fore part of head. Young. Has only black round and behind eye. Length 8-9 inches.
87. Lanius collurio, Linnseus. The Red-backed Shrike or
" Butcher-bird."
Mr. Meade- Waldo observed this Shrike near Tangier on the 10th of April, 1892, and it has been obtained there, though very rarely in Andalucia ; so we may reasonably assume that their line of migration is not across the Straits of Gibraltar ; and it would be interesting to know the reason of this, as in 187G Lord Lilford and myself found them common in the Province of Santander.
LANIUS POMERANUS. 89
Male. Scapulars dull brick-red, uniform with the back ; crown, hind neck, and rump grey ; chin white ; breast with roseate tinge.
Female. Above brownish grey ; tail brownish red. Underparts white ; sides of neck, breast, and flanks barred with brown.
Young. Above reddish brown ; below pale brown ; above and below barred with blackish brown. Length 7^-8 inches.
88. Lanius pomeranus, Sparrman. The "Woodchat Shrike.
Moorish. Aisha el kra (Favier) *. Spanish. Alcaudon.
As common in Morocco as in Andalucia, the Woodchat arrives in March and April, leaving in August and September. The first arrival noticed at Gibraltar in 1868 was on the 3rd of April, in 1869 on the 3rd of April, in 1870 on the 29th of March, in 1894 on the 28th of March ; the passage ceases about the 20th of April. The latest seen was on the 14th of October, 1871 ; in 1869 I observed them returning south on the 26th of August.
The Woodcliat is one of the most abundant and conspicuous birds in spring on both sides of the Straits. Very tame and confiding, unlike their big cousins L. meridionalis and L. alye- riensis ; their pied appearance and the bright chestnut-coloured head of the adult males cause them to be noticed even by the most unobservant. They are to be seen in every direction in woods and on plains, perched on tops of trees, bushes, aloes, and tall plants, making their larders on the spikes of the aloes, and impaling on the thorns, beetles, bees, and all kinds of insects, and are extremely mischievous among bees.
The nest, which usually contains eggs by the 10th of May, is a small edition of that of L. meridionalis, but more covered outside with the greyish-white flowers and stalks of Cudweed (Gnaphalium luteo-album), and usually placed low down in trees.
* " Kra " is a kind of ringworm, and no doubt given as a name to the Woodchat owing to the supposed resemblance the chestnut head of the males has to the head of a Moor afflicted with this disorder, which is common in Tangier, and causes a rusty mangy baldness. "Aisha " is a female name : why applied to pied birds ?
90 LANIID^E.
The eggs, four or five in number, sometimes six, are subject to great variation, many resembling those of our English Butcher- bird, L. collurio.
Male. Forehead black ; centre of crown and nape chestnut ; scapulars white, forming a large white patch on each side ; rump and underparts white ; white alar bar, or speculum, formed by the white outer web of base of primaries.
Female. Like the male, but markings ill-defined and not so bright.
Young. Much like young of last, but lighter. Scapulars and rump paler ; plumage vermiculated with dark brown. Length 7^ inches.
89. Telephonus erythropterus (Shaw). The Hooded Shrike or Tchagra.
Moorish. Abermat (Favier).
" This Shrike is nearly as common as Lanius algeriensis near Tangier, and is resident, nesting in bushes twice a year — in May or June, and again in November. Their note, which is a kind of whistle, harmonious and well sustained, and very like that of a Blackbird, is usually beard from the middle of some thick bush (where they have a habit of hiding themselves), as well as in the thickest part of trees. They lay about three eggs, of the same shape as those of other Shrikes, but white marked with lines and small spots of ash-brown and russet, mostly at the thick end. The sexes are alike in plumage, and undergo no change."- Favier.
According to my limited experience, the Tchagra is rather scarce near Tangier, but more plentiful about a day's journey south. On the 25th of April we took a nest in a small tree close to the ground, containing three slightly incubated eggs, which is, we were informed, the usual complement. , The nest was not so compact as that of the Woodchat, containing less grass and dried flowers, being chiefly built of fibrous roots. Mr. Meade- Waldo writes that " when beating for pigs, and these birds are hustled, they dart into a thick bush and sit perfectly still, so that you can look at them from a yard's distance or less ; when
MUSCICAPIDJS. 91
undisturbed in the early morning, they have a most beautiful wild rich song." It is an easy bird to recognize when once seen on the wing, the chestnut of the wing-coverts and the long tail being very conspicuous.
Favier states that they cross the Straits ; all I can say is, I never saw a Spanish specimen : if they do occur in Spain, they are as yet unobserved by any competent ornithologist.
Crown black ; broad white eye-stripe, with black stripe below.
Wing-coverts chestnut ; below dark ash-grey. Tail much graduated, all the feathers, except the two light brown centre ones, black, tipped with white. Length 9 inches, tail 4 inches.
MUSCICAPID^B. Nostrils more or less covered by
bristly hairs.
90. Muscicapa grisola (Linnaeus). The Spotted Flycatcher.
Spanish. Papamoscas, Pifiata.
" This Flycatcher is very common near Tangier, where they arrive in April and May in pairs and small nights, some remaining to nest, the others passing across the Straits to return in September, when they disappear. Near Rabat they are called Sorsh by the Arabs." — Favier.
The Spotted Flycatcher is exceedingly numerous near Gibraltar, chiefly nesting in the pine- woods, and was first seen on the llth of May, 1870, on the 3rd of the same month in 1871, and on the 8th in 1874. The first egg obtained was on the 24th of the same month. Verner found a nest with fully-fledged young on 3rd of July, 1879. I regret not to have any note of their departure ; but it is previous to the middle of September, and Verner informs me that they leave about the end of August.
Ashy brown above ; forehead lighter than head, which is mottled with streaks of darker brown ; breast white, with brown streaks ; axillaries fawn-coloured.
Young. Spotted. Length 5£ inches.
92 MUSCICAPID^E.
91. Muscicapa atricapilla, Linnaeus. The Pied Flycatcher.
Spanish. Cerrojillo.
"Very abundant near Tangier on passage, crossing to Europe in pairs and small nights during April and May, returning in September and October." — Favier.
In Andalucia the Pied Flycatcher only appears during migration ; and I was never able to detect them remaining to nest. The earliest date of arrival noticed was the 8th of April ; from then till the 1st of May they pass in great numbers, returning late in September. The latest date on which they were observed was the 17th of October, 1870, when I found one in an owl's disused cage, where there was a lot of carrion which attracted flies ; and, again, in 1871 I noticed them on the 16th of October.
Male in spring. Above black, except white forehead and white wing-bar ; axillaries and underparts white ; quills brownish black. Tail black, three outer feathers on each side having two-thirds of the outer web from the base white.
Female, male in winter, and young. Above brownish grey ; underparts dirty white. Tail as in male, but duller. Length 5 inches.
92. Muscicapa collaris, Bechstein. The Collared Fly - catcher.
This Flycatcher is recorded by Mr. Saunders as having been once seen by him at Seville. Is said to be common in Portugal, therefore it is somewhat singular that the bird should not be more frequently noticed in Andalucia.
The adult male differs only from M. atricapilla in having a white collar on the back of the neck.
HIRUNDIN1D.E. 93
HIRUNDINID^.
93. Hirundo rustica, Liunseus. The Common Swallow.
Moorish. Khotaifa. Spanish. Golondrina.
" Great flights of Swallows pass in January and February to Europe, returning in September and October to join those which remain near Tangier to nest, all leaving to go further south for the winter. The Moors believe that it oifends God to kill these birds, in the same way as they believe it pleases or soothes the Evil One to kill the Raven, The stories on which this supersti- tion is founded are too long to relate ; but I was informed by one person that the Swallows and White Storks were inspired by Allah to protect the harvest and the country from noxious insects and reptiles, and that the birds themselves (knowing the benefits they confer on man) ask in return protection for their offspring by building their nests on the walls of towns and houses, and that therefore any one who kills them must be a Kaffir, i. e. not a true believer of the Prophet, especially as the birds would only be killed for mischief, being useless when dead." — Favier.
I wish this belief could be instilled into the minds of English people, who kill and destroy every rare bird they see, through ignorance, love of destruction, and to gratify the cupidity of private collectors.
About Gibraltar the Swallow generally arrives about the 13th of February, although a straggler is occasionally seen in December and January. I have observed them crossing the Straits in considerable numbers up to the 15th of April; the latest passing were noticed on the 24th of that month. Their migration, like the nest of the Hirundinida?, is spread over a considerable period ; I have observed the nest finished on the 23rd of February, and young birds able to fly on the 24th of May. One of each pair, when they first arrive, is tinged with a rufous-buff colour on the underparts ; and as these are slightly larger in size, I think they are the male birds ; but did not, even for the sake of proving
94 HIRUNDIN1DJS.
this, kill one. I remember, on a very cold day (the 13th of March, 1874), Mr. Stark particularly drawing my attention to this difference in the pairs of birds, which, driven by the cold into the stables and outhouses of the venta at Pulverilla, were sitting side by side, touching one another, allowing us almost to touch them. The contrast in their colour was then most conspi- cuous ; but they appear gradually to lose this rufous tinge as the season advances, and by the end of April it is not apparent.
In the month of March, during the time of the northern migration of Swallows, a small butterfly, Thestor ballus (one of the Lycsenidse, between the Hair-Streaks and the Coppers), is out in great abundance on the plains. When walking across the grass, the Swallows, which keep flying very close to leeward of you, instantly catch any unfortunate ballus that flies up ; but they seem unable to take them on the ground, perhaps from the protective colouring of their green under-wings they cannot see them when at rest ; but any way the Swallow is an annoyance to the butterfly collector.
Head, back, and rump steel-blue. Throat and forehead chestnut-red, with complete blue-black band across the lower part of the throat ; under- parts buff to creamy white. Tail strongly forked ; two outer feathers greatly prolonged. Length 8^ inches.
94. Hirundo rufula, Temminck. Red-rumped Swallow.
Arevalo mentions this Eastern Swallow as having nested near Malaga, and it is also recorded from Valencia.
Above glossy purple-blue, with whitish streaks on back. Below white, tinged with buff and streaked with dark brown.
O
Nape and stripe over eye (forming a broad collar) and rump brick-red. Lower part of tail-coverts white. Length 7^ inches.
95. Chelidon urbica (Linnaeus). The House-Martin.
Spanish. Vencejo.
" As common as the Swallow near Tangier, this species is seen in flights on passage, crossing to Europe in February, returning
COTILE EIPAR1A. 95
in September and October, frequently travelling in company with Hirundo rustica, and, as in their case, remaining to breed in some numbers. They often make their nests touching one another, as many as sixty being joined together ; the entrance- hole is sometimes at the side, sometimes in the centre, according to the position of the nest. They are named ' Khotaifa ' by the Arabs, indiscriminately with the Swallow." — Favier.
The above notes equally apply to the House-Martin in Anda- lucia. The earliest date of arrival noticed at Gibraltar was the 5th of February. Verner gives notes of great numbers passing on 15th of April, 1875, and many passing on the 17th of February, 1879.
Both this bird and the Swallow frequently nest in caves and on overhung rocks.
Bump white ; under surface pure white ; tail much forked ; toes feathered. Length 4f inches.
96. Cotile riparia (Linnseus). The Sand-Martin.
" Migratory, and the least abundant of the Swallows about Tangier, arriving to cross the Straits in March and April, returning in October to disappear for the winter." — Favier.
We found the Sand-Martin at Has el Doura, in Morocco, in small numbers, and have no doubt that they were nesting in the vicinity. They breed in the neighbourhood of Seville, but near Gibraltar are only met with on passage. The first seen by me was on the 24th of March 1870, 22nd of March 1871, 24th of February 1872, 28th of February 1874; they were seen passing as late as the 24th of April. On the loth of May I saw, in the evening, over some marshes near Vejer, a flight of Sand-Martins numbering many hundreds — I might say, thousands. I noticed them on the 14th of October on their southward journey.
Above mouse-coloured ; underparts white, except greyish band between chest and throat. Minute tuft of feathers just above hind toe.
Young. Feathers above edged with huffish white. Length 4f inches.
96 HIRUNDINID.E.
97. Cotile rupestris (Scopoli). The Crag-Martin.
Spanish. Vencejillo.
" Nearly as common as the House-Martin about Tangier. Sometimes they pass in large flights, crossing the Straits in February and March, returning in October and November." — Favier.
The Crag-Martin, though universally distributed during the breeding-season in the rocky sierras, is to a great extent migra- tory. Those which do not quit the country appear during the daytime in low ground near the coast about the middle of October, great numbers being then seen at Gibraltar. In March they return to their breeding-haunts, some nesting in inaccessible places at the " back of the Rock."
They commence about the 10th of March to build their nests, which resemble those of the Swallow, H. rustica, but being placed on the roofs of caverns are very difficult to reach ; and I did not succeed in examining the inside of one. The birds were sitting by the 30th of April. One locality for nests near Gibraltar, and the most accessible that I have seen, was a cave in a patch of rocks at the entrance of La Trocha, on the road from Algeciraz to Ojen, where it passes by the side of the ravine called la Garganta del Capitan.
At the back of the Rock, at Gibraltar, is a cave almost under the Osprey's eyry, which can only be entered by landing from a boat in fair weather. This cave is very large and open, with sand at the bottom sloping upwards for a considerable distance at a sharp angle, and at the end, judging from the tracks of divers Genets or Striped Cats (Viuerra), seems to be the regular dining- room of these animals ; for whenever we visited the place it was covered with the tail-feathers and pinions of numbers of Rock- Martins mingled with those of a good many Swifts, Rock-Doves, and a few Lesser Kestrels.
Above mouse-coloured ; underparts huffish brown. Oval white spots on all but the centre and outer tail-feathers. Length 5 inches.
FRINGILLID^E. 97
FRINGILLIDJE.
98. Coccothraustes vulgaris, Pallas. The Hawfinch.
Spanish. Cascanueces (Nutcracker), Pinonero, Pico gordo.
Favier states the Hawfinch to be " very rare near Tangier, having only met with two — one in 1836, the other in 1849." Olcese obtained one since then (Reid, ' Ibis,' 1885), whilst Mr. Meade- Waldo saw several near Tangier in the spring of 1892.
On the Spanish side of the Straits this bird is very common, and most plentiful in winter. Some nest in the Cork-wood in May ; and during the season of migration they often frequent pine-woods, and are then rather shy and difficult to approach. About Cordova they are most abundant, and are there and at Seville exposed alive for sale at about one real apiece. I kept a pair, purchased at Seville, for some time ; but never could tame them. The hen bird at last killed her mate, having previously at regular intervals plucked him while living.
I gave this amiable and domestic female to a bird-fancier at Gibraltar, much to his delight, but ultimately to his sorrow, as she vented her temper upon some other pet birds with which she was caged, and, in consequence, justly suffered capital punishment.
Bill very large. Fifth and next four primaries shaped like a bill-hook.
Adult male. General colour above chestnut-brown ; crown reddish brown, lightest on forehead ; hind neck grey ; black patch on chin ; larger wing-coverts tipped with white ; sides of body and flanks vinaceous brown ; bill bluish ; iris greyish white.
Female. Head ashy brown ; secondaries edged with bluish grey ; flanks as in male.
In winter. Bill fleshy white.
Young. Spotted, no grey at back of neck or black patch on chin ; lower breast and flanks spotted and barred with brown ; iris brown. Length 7 inches.
II
98 FRINGILLID^E.
99. Ligurinus chloris (Linnaeus). The Greenfinch.
Spanish. Verdon.
"Found near Tangier as a common resident; others migrate in immense flights, which pass north in February and March, returning in October and November." — Famer.
This species, another of our common British birds, is extremely abundant on both sides of the Straits. Many are resident, nesting during the month of May ; and hundreds are caught in August and September and brought into the markets, where they are exposed for sale in large bunches. The Greenfinch is also a very common cage-bird, for sometimes as many as twenty may be seen, each in a separate cage, hanging outside the wall of a house. What their merits as a cage-bird are it is difficult to understand, as their song, if it can be dignified with the name, is to me positively unpleasant.
Greenfinches from Morocco and the south of Spain are rather smaller and more brightly coloured than English birds.
Adult male. General colour above olive -yellow, shaded with ashy grey ; crown more ashy than back ; axillaries bright yellow ; primaries edged •with bright yellow reaching to the shaft ; tail black at ends, yellow at the base ; outer tail-feathers yellow at the base of both webs.
In winter. Browner.
Female. Browner than male; primaries only margined with yellow; outer tail-feathers edged with yellow on outer web only.
Young male. Like female, but has primaries and tail as in adult male. Length (j inches.
100. Carduelis elegans, Stephens. The Goldfinch.
Moorish. Mouknin. Spanish. Gilguero. Andalucian. Sil- guero.
"Exceedingly plentiful near Tangier, and resident; but numbers migrate, arriving from about the month of August, to depart again for the north in the month of March." — Famer.
The Goldfinch is, without doubt, the most common and
CARDUELIS ELEOANS. 99
abundant bird in the west of Andalucia. Always plentiful in every direction, they appear in countless flocks when the seed of the various thistles becomes ripe ; and Spain is the country par excellence both of thistles and donkeys. The former, in some of the vegas and plains, grow in almost impenetrable thickets, in places covering acres of ground ; for when the land is left fallow for a season, all weeds are allowed to run riot, and they do so with a vengeance. Some of the thistles (and there are many different kinds) are very handsome — a large, yellow, carline species being perhaps the most attractive to the eye. The stalks, heads, and leaves of a species of Cynara, very like the garden artichoke, are a staple vegetable (cardo] with the Spaniards. The dried stalks of another thistle are much used as tinder in the rural districts, and known as yesca de cardo, which takes light well from the sparks made by a flint and steel, most of the peasants using no other method of lighting their papelitos.
To return to the Goldfinches, at the time of their thistle- harvest they are caught in vast quantities in clap-nets ; and it is not unusual to see a man with bunches of several hundreds, which are sold at a ridiculously low price. Though perhaps rather dry, they are not to be despised as morsels ; but one feels as if committing a sin when devouring such a charming and useful little bird.
The Goldfinch in Andalucia breeds about the beginning of May, and occasionally nests at Gibraltar in the Alameda and various gardens at the South.
Bill nearly conical and sharp-pointed.
Adult. General colour above ruddy brown. Forehead, upper throat, and cheeks crimson ; hinder crown and sides of neck black ; outer web of basal half of primaries, except the first, and the larger wing-coverts, brilliant yellow.
Young. Mottled, no red or black on head, that part being greyish brown. Length 5 inches.
H2
100 FEING1LLID.E.
101. Carduelis spinus (Linnaeus). The Siskin.
Spanish. Lugano.
On the African side of the Straits, Mr. Meade-Waldo found the Siskin, in the early spring of 1892, abundant near Tangier. Neither Favier nor Mr. Drake mention the bird.
In Andalucia they are very irregular in appearance, in some winters not being noticed at all. The Spaniards say they only come every seventh year. This idea is prevalent about Seville, as well as near Gibraltar ; but, it is needless to say, is a popular error.
In the winter of 1870-71 they were plentiful wherever there were any alder trees ; and I saw some as late as the 4th of April. In the two previous winters, and during the one following, none were obtained by the birdcatchers, who are always looking out for them, as they are much desired and fetch a good price as cage-birds. In 1874, I saw four on a white poplar tree in the Alameda of Gibraltar, on the 24th of March ; they were so tame as to allow of my approach within a yard of them, and remained for a long time close to me.
Adult male. Above yellowish green ; cheeks, throat, and breast bright yellow ; flanks streaked with black ; crown and small patch on chin black ; tail blackish, all but the two centre feathers yellow at the base.
Female. No black on head or chin ; throat uniform dull white. Length 4| inches.
102. Chrysomitris citrinella (Linnseus). The Citril Finch.
Reported by Mr. Saunders to be found on the coast, and Arevalo says they are of irregular occurrence in autumn near Granada and Malaga. I never met with any near Gibraltar, and Lord Lilford informs me that he never handled a Spanish specimen; while Major Verner, who knew the bird well, tried in vain to obtain or even see one during six years at Gibraltar, none even being brought into the market.
Male. Back dull olive-green, each feather striped with dark brown.
PASSER DOMESTICUS. 101
Crown, cheeks, rump, and underparts greenish yellow. Nape, hind neck, sides of neck, and flanks ashy grey.
Female. Duller in plumage. Length 5 inches.
103. Serinus hortulans, K. L. Koch. The Serin Finch. Spanish. Chamaris.
" This bird is very abundant near Tangier, both as a resident and on migration, when they are seen passing north in immense flights during February, returning in October and November." — Favier.
The Serin Finch is found on the Spanish side in accordance with the above note. During the breeding-season they greatly frequent the Cork-wood, and their hissing unpleasant song is to be heard all around. They seem to keep very much to the banks of rivers, nesting in May on trees and bushes, like the Goldfinch, resembling that bird both in their nest and eggs.
Bill conical, short, stout, and blunt.
Adult male. General colour above pale brown, each feather edged with yellow, and streaked with black on the centre ; crown like the back ; forehead, nape, eye-stripe, throat, and breast yellow ; flanks streaked with black.
Female. Like male, but duller ; throat, breast, and flanks streaked with dark brown. Length 4^ inches.
104. Passer domesticus (Linnseus). The House-Sparrow.
Moorish. Bertal. Spanish. Gorrion.
Common on both sides of the Straits, being the Sparrow of the district.
Adult male. Crown, nape, and rump ashy grey, with a chestnut streak on each side of head ; throat black ; ear-coverts white j general colour above chestnut, streaked with black on back.
Female. Lacks black throat of male ; above dingy brown, streaked with black ; pale eye-stripe ; rump ashy brown.
Young. Like female, but can always be known by the yellowish skin at angle of gape. Length 6 inches.
102 FRINGILL1D.E.
105. Passer montanus (Linnaeus). The Tree-Sparrow. Spanish. Gorrion serrano.
This Sparrow occurs sometimes in Andalucia, as I have seen specimens obtained in the country ; but I did not observe any near Gibraltar.
Sexes alike. Smaller than last. Always nests in holes of trees, thatch, and buildings.
Adult. Crown and nape uniform vinaceous chestnut ; throat black ; ear-coverts ashy white, with black patch on lower part ; rump ashy brown.
Young. Duller, but show indistinctly markings of adults. Length 5^ inches.
106. Passer hispaniolensis, Temminck. The Spanish Sparrow.
This is another of the chestnut-headed Sparrows, and is local in distribution on both sides of the Straits. In some places they are very abundant ; and, as is well known, often build under the nests of the larger birds of prey. I found a nest built underneath one of Buteo desertorum.
Male. Crown and nape chestnut ; cheeks whitish ; back black, each feather streaked with white ; flanks streaked with black ; throat and chest black.
Females resemble those of the Common Sparrow. Length 5^ inches.
107. Petronia stulta (Gmelin). The Rock-Sparrow.
Spanish. Gorrion montes.
Neither Favier nor Mr. Drake mentions having seen this Sparrow in Morocco, where, however, it is found, as on the Spanish side, commonly in the sierras and rocky ground, nesting in May in holes of rocks.
The adult male has a yellow spot on the throat ; in the female this mark is much fainter, and absent in the young. Length 6 inches.
108. Fringilla ccelebs, Linnams. The European Chaffinch.
Spanish. Pinzon.
This Chaffinch crosses in winter to the African side of the
FRINGILLA. SPODIOGENTS. 103
Straits, as Capt. S. Reid in 1884-85 found many in the Tzelatza Valley ; whilst Mr. Meade- Waldo informs me that in the spring of 1892 he saw immense numbers, far more than of the next species. Throughout Andalucia where there are trees this bird is as common as in England, being most abundant in winter, when the residents are outnumbered by the migrants. They appear on the Rock as early as the 12th of August, but I did not detect them remaining to nest, although quantities breed in the Cork-wood and all the wooded valleys of the neighbour- hood, usually laying about the end of April ; but in 1894 I found a nest touching the ground on the Sierra Retin, which contained young about a week old, on the 25th of March.
Adult male. Forehead black ; head slate-grey ; back rufous ; ear- coverts and underparts vinous red ; rump olive-green. Two white bars on wing.
Male in winter. Duller, the slate-grey feathers having brown tips, and the white on wings is tinged with yellow.
Female. Head and back ashy brown ; below pale brown ; rump yellowish green. — In winter is browner, and the white on the wings has yellow tinge. Length 6 inche.«.
109. Fringllla spodiog-enys, Bonaparte. The North- African Chaffinch.
Moorish. Birdon, Bird61.
This Chaffinch is common and resident in Morocco. The nest and eggs resemble those of our Common Chaffinch, but the harsher note is very distinct.
Mr. Meade-Waldo found them fairly common in evergreen scrub, and says that they frequented more wooded ground than the last species, in the spring of 1892. There is no record of their occurrence on the Spanish side of the Straits.
The adult male is to be distinguished from F. coelebs by the back being yellowish green, and by the throat and breast being light yellowish buff. Length G inches.
The females are similar to those of the Common Chaffinch.
104 FRINGILLID^E.
110. Fringilla montifringilla, Linnams. The Brambling.
Spanish. Montanes, Millero.
This species "has been once obtained near Tangier, in 1845, when I killed a female from among a lot of Linnets ; the male escaped." — Favier.
The Brambling, on the Spanish side of the Straits, is of very irregular though not unfrequent appearance near Gibraltar in winter; during that of 1870-71 they, as well as Siskins, were abundant. Near Seville they are more regular in appearance, and are sufficiently well known about Cordova to bear the local name of " Millero."
Rump white, intermixed with black ; axillaries and smaller inner wing- coverts pale yellow.
Male in summer. Head and upper back blue-black ; throat and chest orange ; flanks spotted with black ; bill bluish.
Male in winter. Black parts edged with buff ; throat duller, shaded with sandy buff ; bill yellow.
Female. Head and upper back dark brown ; rest of plumage much as male in winter, but less bright. Length 6|- inches.
111. Montifringilla nivalis (Linnaeus). The Snow-Finch.
This Alpine Finch is found in the Sierra Nevada. Mr. Stark, in letter, says : " This bird is very common in Sierra Nevada, at from 3000 to 6000 feet, in small flocks."
Head and nape ashy grey. Back brown, centre of feathers darker ; wing-coverts and axillaries white. Below creamy white. Black patch on throat in summer. Bill black in summer, yellow in winter. Two centre tail-feathers blackish, the rest white, all but the outer tipped with black. Length 7 inches.
112. Linota cannabina (Linnaeus). The Common Linnet.
Moorish. Sharif (Favier}. Spanish. Camacho, Jamas. " Abundant around Tangier, many being resident and nesting from March to June. They are mostly migratory and cross to
LINOTA FLAVIROSTRIS. 105
Europe in March and April, returning in large flocks during September and October." — Fader.
The Common Linnet is very plentiful on the Spanish side, especially during the winter months. Great numbers remain to breed, nesting in April, mostly in scrub on the sides of the hills. Upon one occasion a pair built on an olive-bush in my garden at Gibraltar.
The adult males are, as a rule, far more brightly coloured than English specimens.
Adult male. General colour above reddish brown ; forehead and breast rich crimson ; rump paler than back ; wing-coverts uniform chestnut-brown, like the back, without white edging ; throat whitish. In winter the red colour is obscured by pale edgings to breast-feathers, which wear off.
Female. Has no red on head or breast ; sides of face dark ashy, like the head ; bill dusky.
Young. Like female, but spotted. Length 5^-6 inches.
113. Linota rufescens (Vieillot). The Lesser Redpole.
This bird is not mentioned by Favier, but is included by Mr. Drake in his list of the birds of Morocco.
On the Spanish side of the Straits it can only be considered a very rare and irregular winter visitant like the Twite.
Adult male. Above light brown, streaked with blackish brown ; fore crown carmine ; chin black ; throat and breast pink ; rump dusky brown, tinged with crimson and streaked with brown ; wing-coverts tipped with rufous buff, forming a double wing-bar.
Female. Like male, but only red on the head. In winter the pink colour is much hidden by pale edges to the feathers.
Young dull coloured, without any red or pink. Length 4£ inches.
114. Linota flavirostris (Linngeus). The Twite or Mountain-
Linnet.
I have no record of the occurrence of this Linnet on the Moorish side. In Andalucia it is a rare winter straggler.
No red on forehead or breast ; bill yellow in adults, dusky in young. Adult male. Above ruddy brown, feathers streaked with black down the
106 FKJNG1LLID.E.
centre, those on the back with pale margins ; rump purplish red ; throat and fore neck clear reddish broicn, the latter streaked with dark brown ; axillaries reddish brown, with black centres.
Female. Like male, but lighter and without the rosy rump, which is uniform with the back. Length 5-5£ inches.
115. Pyrrhula erythrina, Pallas. Scarlet Grosbeak.
Three immature specimens of this Eastern Finch have been obtained in October, near Malaga.
The females and young males of this species are at first sight very likely to be mistaken for immature Greenfinches (C. cMoris}, but are to be distinguished by the form of the