[2] The term "Moor" has always seemed to us a trifle unfortunate, as tending to indicate that the conquering race came from Morocco--"Turks" or "Arabs" would have been a more appropriate title. For fifty years after the conquest Spain was governed by Emirs subject to the Kaliphs of Damascus, the first independent power being wielded by the Emir Abderahman III. who, in 777, usurped the title of Kaliph of Cordoba. That kaliphate, by the way, during its earlier splendours, became the centre of universal culture, Cordoba being the intellectual capital of the world, with a population that has been stated at two millions. [3] For the information of readers who have not studied the subject, it may be well to add that, during the early years of the seventeenth century, something like a million of Spanish Moors--the most industrious of its inhabitants--were either massacred in Spain or expelled from the country. [4] At a big hotel the menu on May 26 included (as usual) "partridges." We emphasised a mild protest by refusing to eat them; but the landlord scored with both barrels. On opening our luncheon-basket next day (we had a twelve-hours' railway journey), there were the rejected redlegs! We had to eat them then--or starve! [5] We have seen an exception to this in the mountain villages of the Castiles, where on _fiesta_ nights a sort of rude valse is danced in the open street. [6] By their peculiar style of aviation these birds, swaying up and down and swerving on zigzag courses, alternately expose a scintillating crimson mass suddenly flashing into a cloud of black and rosy white--according as their brilliant wing-plumage or their white bodies are presented to the eye. "A flame of fire" is the Arab signification of their name _flamenco_. [7] No offence to our scientific friends aforesaid. We recognise their argument and respect its thoroughness, though regarding it as occasionally misdirected. Possibly in their splendid zeal they overlook the danger of reducing scientific classification to a mere monopoly confined to a few score of professors, specialists, and cabinet-naturalists, instead of serving as an aid and general guide (as is surely its true intention) to thousands of less learned students. Over-elaboration is apt to beget chaos. [8] We have known the spoor of a wounded stag pass beneath strong interlacing branches so low that, in following, we have had to wriggle under on hands and knees. The spoor showed there had been no such cervine necessity. [9] Weight, clean, two days killed, 78 kilos = 180 lbs. [10] There are sand-lizards identical in colour with the sand itself--pale yellow or drab, adorned with wavy black lines closely resembling the wind-waves on the sand. [11] There are, of course, exceptions, such as golden plovers, ruffs, dunlin, godwits, knots, that do assume a vernal dress.