[47] Though no hay is made expressly, yet the sun-baked herbage, called pastos, of the fallows and winter grazings is practically equivalent to hay found ready-made.
[48] Taxation falls heavily enough on the farmer direct. Land-owners are asked by the State for about one-fourth of the rental. The tax on tenant-farmers is equally heavy, estimated by a cumbrous assessment, based on the number of draught-oxen employed, or the head of grazing stock. A large proportion of the taxation leviable is, however, evaded.
[49] The following table shows the production of cereals (in Spain) in a normal year:—
| Wheat | 32,776,055 | hectolitres. |
| Barley | 17,410,164 | " |
| Rye | 7,392,778 | " |
| Maize | 7,788,183 | " |
| Oats | 2,633,672 | " |
[50] A hectare is, roughly, about an acre and a half. A hectolitre is equivalent to two and three-quarter bushels.
[51] The large irides and general appearance of this species seem to indicate crepuscular tendencies, and an affinity—obsolete or evolvent—to the Strigidæ, which is recognized in its generic name, Circäetus, next to the Harriers. But, in fact, the affinity is more apparent than real, for the Serpent-Eagle is of purely diurnal habits.
[52] Some Kites (M. ictinus), which had been feeding on reptiles, had a most offensive smell. The beak of the male, in this species, is yellow to the tip; in the female, horn-colour. The kites all lay two eggs, on the bare sticks—only once, in each case, have we found the dual number exceeded, viz., M. ictinus, three young, on May 2nd; M. migrans, three eggs, on May 10th. We have found the eggs of the first-named as early as the closing days of March.
[53] Partridges commence this love-song as early as February. In March it is continuous at sunrise and towards dusk. Here is an attempt to syllable it:—
"Chŭck, chŭck ... churroùk, churroùk,
Chukàr, chukàr, chōŭk!"
[54] In Egypt the Grey-backed Crow (Corvus cornix) is almost exclusively the Cuckoo's dupe; in Algeria, Pica mauritanica.