[58] We have a number of pinsápos growing in Northumberland. They were planted some ten years ago on a cold northern exposure, and are now flourishing vigorously, some having reached a height of eight or ten feet. Nearly all tend to throw up numerous “leaders” as described.
[59] Pinsápo timber is fairly hard, but too “knotty” for general purposes, and it is useless for charcoal. Yet these glorious forests are being sacrificed wholesale because the wood affords “good kindling” for the charcoal-furnace—can wasteful wantonness further go? That the only existing forests of the kind on earth should be ruthlessly destroyed for no single object but to provide kindling passes understanding.
[60] We mention, parenthetically, certain birds observed at end of March on that alpine meadow (4800 feet), as follows:—One ring-ouzel, a pair of common wheatears, woodlarks, and Dartford warblers—all, no doubt, on migration—besides, of course, blackchats, blue thrushes, etc. A month later the beautiful rock-thrush had come to grace the desolation with lilting flight and song, and tawny pipits ran blithely among the rocks.
[61] Note that the pellets or “castings” thrown up by vultures are chiefly formed of grass cut up into lengths and compacted with saliva, evidently digestive. We have frequently seen vultures carrying a wisp of grass in their beaks.
[62] The Spanish name of the ibex, Cabra montés, signifies, not as might appear, “mountain-goat,” but scrub-goat; and may have originated in this region, or at least from a habit which prevails here though obsolete everywhere else.
[63] Similar results followed on the Laguna de Janda. That great shallow lake abounds in winter with both ducks and geese; but differs from the marismas in being sweet water, hence is not frequented by flamingoes. Another point of difference is that its shores are occupied by wild bulls instead of brood-mares; hence the cabresto-pony is not available. Wildfowl here also proved inaccessible to a gunning-punt on open waters; while wherever reeds or sedge promised some “advantage,” in such places the depth of water was always insufficient to float the lightest of craft within range. The best shot made during four seasons realised but twenty-three (seven geese and sixteen duck)—a paltry total. Occasionally a great bustard was shot from the gunboat.
[64] The word “Corro” applies in Spanish to any noisy group—say a knot of people discussing politics in the street!
[65] One feels convinced, while lying listening, that these exuberant fowl invent and formulate a series of new notes and cries special to the occasion and outside their normal vocabulary. Hence, possibly, originated the use of the term “Corro.”
[66] Corros usually consist (especially the earlier assemblies) of one root-species—others merely “edge in.” The later corros, however, are much mixed. They vary in numbers: one may contain but 200 pairs, another within half-a-mile as many thousands.
[67] Pratincoles cast themselves down flat on the dry mud, fluttering as though in mortal agony—or, say, like a huge butterfly with a pin through its thorax! The device is presumably adopted in order to decoy an intruder away from their eggs or young. This year, however, the pratincoles still practised it, although they had neither eggs nor young at all. One day (May 12) a gale of wind blew some of the deceivers bodily away.