. Bird-hunting through wild Europe . ooped down and carriedit off without alighting. At the second attempt,after procuring another rabbit, the shutter duly wentoff, and by the tracks left in the sand it was plainthat a Kite or Kites had been there. Unfortunately,the plate, from which I expected an interestingphotograph, was badly fogged from being left solong in the brilliant sun, only protected by the fabricof the focal-plane shutter. Many Peregrines were flying about the forests,and were apparently resting or sitting in emptynests, for from one nest from which we disturbeda Peregrine we afte
. Bird-hunting through wild Europe . ooped down and carriedit off without alighting. At the second attempt,after procuring another rabbit, the shutter duly wentoff, and by the tracks left in the sand it was plainthat a Kite or Kites had been there. Unfortunately,the plate, from which I expected an interestingphotograph, was badly fogged from being left solong in the brilliant sun, only protected by the fabricof the focal-plane shutter. Many Peregrines were flying about the forests,and were apparently resting or sitting in emptynests, for from one nest from which we disturbeda Peregrine we afterwards took four eggs of theRaven. Kestrels also use the old nests of the Kite inwhich to lay their own eggs. Barn Owls and Jack-daws nest in the old cork-trees, while the quaintLittle Owls use the Woodpeckers holes in the sametrees, and also the holes in the gnarled and twistedolive-trees. Bee-eaters, Hoopoes, Rollers, and GoldenOrioles also abound, and add to the interest of thescene by their brilliant plumage ; and a few Southern. THROUGH WILD EUROPE 55 Grey Shrikes and many Woodchat Shrikes sit onthe bushes and smaller trees on the watch forpassing beetles. This Grey Shrike is not thenorthern form, Lanius excubitor, but Lanius meri-dionalis, which has the breast vinous coloured; theformer is not found anywhere in Spain. In the orange orchards nearer the river we foundmany Goldfinches nests, and several nests of Wood-chat Shrike. Another nest of the Woodchat, with six eggs,was in a tangled bush at the height of aboutseven feet from the ground. The only nest ofLanius meridionalis, the Southern Grey Shrike,was also in a very thick bush, but lower down,perhaps five feet from the ground. In the orange-trees was a nest of the OrpheanWarbler, while Great Tits, called by the Spanishboys Santa Cruz (Holy Cross), from the blackthroat and breast stripe forming a rude sort of cross,were very abundant, nesting in similar holes andcrannies to those usually chosen by these birds athome. N
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, bookidcu319240, booksubjectbirds
