File:Unexplored Spain (1910) (20140108483).jpg

Title: Unexplored Spain
Identifier: cu31924016410387 (find matches)
Year: 1910 (1910s)
Authors: Chapman, Abel, 1851-1929; Buck, Walter John. joint author
Subjects: Hunting; Natural history
Publisher: London, E. Arnold
Contributing Library: Cornell University Library
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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Spring-time in the Marismas 389 (another or two hard by), were about five feet above water-level, and contained three, three, and four pale-blue eggs. While circling around their nests, the old herons showed a conspicuous projection beneath their curved necks. We therefore shot one and found the effect was caused by a curious "kink" or bony process on the front of the upper neck—as sketched. Of other birds observed at this Laguna de Terajes may be noted a few mallard and marbled ducks, a pair of squacco herons (not breeding), common sandpipers (on May 8), and a party of whiskered terns which arrived while we were there. The day we had spent among the marsh-birds at this sequestered lagoon happened to be the day of the general election and the usual excitement prevailed. Yet, as we journeyed down by the early train, we had read in the morning's paper this para- graph: "An understanding" (Inteligencia) — " Yesterday an understanding was arrived at in Madrid between Maura and Canalejas, by which the former is to hold 225 seats." Why, after that, bother further with an election ? 'Twill serve as an object-lesson at home. Another phenomenon of the Spanish marismas is the through- transit in May of that little group of world-wanderers that make a winter-home in the southern hemisphere—in South Africa and Madagascar, Australia, New Zealand, some even in Patagonia— and yet return each spring to summer in Arctic regions. These comprise, notably, but four species, and not one of these four, in our view, is excelled for perfect beauty of bright, chaste, and contrasted coloration by any other bird-form on earth. This quartette is composed of the grey plover, knot, curlew-sandpiper, and bartailed godwit—all four of which appear here in thousands every May, and all in summer dress. Note, first, that these do not arrive in Spain (having come 6000 or 8000 miles but being still 2000 or 3000 miles short of their final destination) until long after all other birds—including several congeneric and closely related species—have already laid their eggs and many hatched their young. Also, secondly, that some of them begin to assume their spring breeding-plumage
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PURPLE HERON (Ardeapurpurea)

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