more or less abundantly in almost all parts of the
Spanish Peninsula. I have very seldom found the
Black Kite in mountainous or even hilly districts, it
seems to affect especially the woods on the marshy
plains or the banks of large rivers. In general habits
this bird much resembles the Common Kite, but, as far
as my own experience goes, is more addicted to a diet of
reptiles, fishes, and insects than that species. In Spain
the present species generally nests in pine-trees, poplars,
or willows, at a considerable height from the ground:
several pairs are often to be found breeding in close
vicinity. I never noticed such a variety of rubbish in
the materials of the nests of the Black Kite as in those
of the “ Porky-tail,” as the Common Kite was frequently
called at the time when it really was “ common ” in this
country; the eggs are white, with speckles and streaks
of rusty brown. In Central Spain we generally met
with large colonies of the so-called “Spanish ” Sparrow
{Passer salicicolus) nesting in the immediate neighbourhood
of both species of Kite, and in more than one
instance actually found nests of these Sparrows amongst
the foundations of those of the Kites.