ORNITHOLOGY IN SPAIN.*
WE do not hesitate to describe Colonel Willoughby Verner'a book as the most delightful contribution to ornithological literature that has appeared for some time. Now that Lord Lilford, Colonel Irby, and Mr. Howard Saunders are gone there is no one who knows more intimately the bird life of Southern Spain. Since the early "seventies" be has devoted his leisure to expeditions through the wilds of Andalusia in pursuit of his favourite study, and now he has a house and passes the winter in that favoured district. His brother- officers will remember him at Gibraltar deserting the Calpe Hounds during a bunt to mark down a nesting bird, and in the Soudan returning from a reconnaissance with a clutch of eggs in his helmet. "Thanlc heaven, I'm not reduced to bird's-nesting," exclaimed a contemptuous young brother-officer whose idea of sport was watching yachts from the yacht club window. The interesting adventures which Colonel Verner describes may be recommended to all who are likely to enjoy the memoirs of a most determined and unrepentant bird's-nester. Spain, as all those who have left the railways know, is still happily an ornithologist's paradise. Vast districts are unspoilt by man, as they were in England some two or three centuries back, Marshes are undtained and mountains uncrossed by roads.' Cranes, flamingoes, bustards, and harriers nest on the lowlands. The rocks and cliffs are still tenanted by a profusion of raptorial birds and ravens. It is a n.d news to learn from Colonel Verner that game preservatien, so detestable to naturalists, is beginning in some parts of Spain. But the highways are mostly un- fenced and unrepaired, rivers are still crossed by fords; and the only scavengers are vultures and kites. There are some excellent descriptions of wild nature and scenery in Colonel Vernees account of the day in the laguna, the ride across the vega, the expedition to the cork-woods, and the excursion along the cliffs to Trafalgar. The bird life described may well excite an ornitholdgist to frenzy; and though some Will • My Ufa among tho Wild Birds in ktroin.• By Colonel Willoughby Verner: 'Tandem; Joan Bale. Honk and Danielsson. Ms nat.]
think that Colonel Verner robbed nests too freely, none can charge him with 'hooting birds without good reason. Five species of eagle breed in Southern Spain with comparative safety : the golden, the booted, the snake, the white-shouldered, and Bonelli's eagle. The last is often seen, though probably not recognised, by the traveller who lands at Gibraltar. Among vultures, whose nests Colonel Verner has specially delighted to harry suspended by a rope over some appalling precipice, there are four species: the black, the griffon, the Egyptian, and the bearded vulture. Each provides matter for an account of terrible climbing adventures. If there are any who may be tempted to emulate our author, they will find the first part of his book devoted to hints on cliff and tree climbing. Besides birds, Colonel Verner has made many friends in Spain, if, indeed, the birds would apply to him the term "friend." Ho has explored remote places with a packhorse and his climbing apparatus. He knows the peasants and the muleteers. He is greeted by the guardia civil and the contrabandistas. The work is well illustrated. Some of the uncoloured plates of birds will be recognised by those who know Lord Lilford's book. There are besides many interesting photographs taken in perilous places, and some sketches which have the merit of fidelity to the facts. There is one serious drawback to the pleasure which can be got from the book. It is so heavy that we say deliberately that it' is an oppression on the reader to publish a volume of this weight.
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