Andalucian May, and to watch the birds; of these the
most locally abundant were the Whiskered and the
Black Tern, whose nests were on the water amongst
thick masses of a white-flowered weed, or on the
rubbish left on the banks by the subsidence of winter
floods. Here were also, at the time of our visits, many
Grebes of three species, their nests interspersed with
those of the Terns on the tangle of weed that covered
considerable portions of the water-surface. Stilts, Redshanks,
and other Waders were clamorous around us,
whilst Bee-eaters coursed the upper air, and Warblers
of many species sang and chattered amongst the bulrushes.
Harriers were constantly sailing about, and,
as a matter of course in Andalucia, a Vulture or two
soared high above all. I am only writing of what
might be taken in at a glance, and will not here refer to
several other birds whose nests we discovered on close
examination of our surroundings. I must in honesty
confess that the mosquito was not absent from this
ornithological paradise, but tobacco and the birds
rendered us indifferent to his attacks, and personally I
have always considered this insect as far less irritating
than the homely midge of our own country.
To come back to the special subject of my present
article, the Terns disturbed at our appearance rose in a
cloud, and dashed about us with great clamour till we
had satisfied our greed by taking some of their eggs by
riding into the water and ladling them out of the nests;
but they took very little notice of our presence as we
sat about the margin of the tarns after this operation,
and many of them settled quietly down upon their eggs