Though a large number of reptiles occur in Spain, only the viper (Pelias bents), which is not abundant, is deadly to man. The great Coelopeltis monspessulanus, sometimes 5 ft. long, is the largest Spanish lizard, while Lacerta ocellata is a large species abundant in central and southern Spain. The common Iberian land-tortoise (Testudo iberica) and the European pond-tortoise (Emys orbicularis) are also typical. The chameleon (Chamoeleon vulgaris), a rare African form, is sometimes found in southern Spain. The amphibians exhibit many autochthonous forms, notably Chioglossa lusitanica, a species of salamander, while the repulsive "gallipato" (Pleurodeles waltli), is abundant in tanks and pools. Insect life is remarkably rich, and many of the numerous species of beetles and butterflies are endemic. Trout abound in the mountain streams and lakes, and barbel, carp and tench are other common fresh-water fish.
The Iberian peninsula has such important remains of most of the phases of civilization, from the later Palaeolithic age onwards, that the racial make-up of its population is, doubtless, highly com plex. It is said that, as in the Dordogne in France, and on the Welsh moorlands and elsewhere, very long-headed dark types which were characteristic of Western Europe in the Aurignacian period of the Palaeolithic, still occur among the people of the Basque Provinces and Tras-os-Montes. The peninsula, generally, and the contrast in culture, and in political relations between Galicia and the Asturias, on the one hand, and the rest of Spain has been marked in different ways at many different periods, but the natural differences between "pluviose" and "arid" Spain have played their parts here. The great regions of Spain, italicized in the table in the preceding column, all have bases in physical features.
It has often been said that Roman Spain had a large popula tion, and estimates up to 40 or 5o millions have been ventured, but little is known save that Tarraco (Tarragona) was a very large place and that there were large garrisons. The first Spanish census was taken in 1594 and, if an estimate be added for parts not then included, a figure of 8,200,000 is reached. In 1787 the total was 10,268,150, in 1857 it was 15,464,340, in 1897 it had risen only to 18,132,475. Starting, therefore, with a relatively high figure in the 16th century, Spain fell behind other lands in the 19th century, when these developed industry. The Spanish empire in the New World was a severe drain upon the manhood.
It will be noted that there has been an increase in population in all the provinces since 1900.
The towns with a population found to be over ioo,000 in Dec. 1930 were:— is inhabited by long-headed peoples without any of the large blocks of broad-heads which characterize, for example, France and Italy.
The Basque language (q.v.) is a mysterious survival in the western Pyrenees (Navarre), and in regions to the west of these, which are thence called the Basque Provinces. The Catalan lan guage, widely spoken in north-east Spain and French Roussillon, is allied to Balearic speech and Provençal, and differs in many ways from Castilian Spanish, though both are derived, in the main, from Latin. The Galician dialect is akin to Portuguese. It was usually the east, south, and west coasts of the peninsula that were mostly in contact with ancient Mediterranean civilizations, Madrid and Barcelona show the greatest increase in population. In 1877 Madrid had only 397,816 inhabitants; this had risen to 539,835 in 1900, and the first three decades of the century have brought it to 952,832. Barcelona had 277,000 inhabitants in 1877; they had increased to 533,000 in 1900, and reached 1,005,565 in 1930.
Religion.—Roman Catholicism is the established religion, and, with the exception of a small number of Protestants, Jews, etc., claims the adherence of the whole population. The relations be tween Church and State were defined by concordat in 1851, and this has remained in force, except for the admission of more re ligious orders than those mentioned in the document, until the present time. The Constitution requires the State to support the clergy, the church buildings, etc. There are nine metropolitan sees and 51 suffragan sees. The archbishop of Toledo is primate, and the other archbishops reign at Burgos, Granada, Compostella, Saragossa, Seville, Tarragona, Valencia and Valladolid. Difficul ties arose for the Roman Church during the Revolution from i868 to 1877, especially in Catalonia and Andalusia, which were cen tres of Republicanism. But, with the Restoration and the great favour shown to the Church by the new monarchs, there came a marked revival in ecclesiastical and monastic life. The religious orders are very influential in education. There were 4,497 re ligious houses in 1924, 948 for men and 3,549 for women. Of those for the men, eight were technical schools, 215 were given over to preparation for the priesthood, 103 to charity and 90 to the simple meditative monastic life, while 532 were devoted to education. Charity, education (1,309 establishments) and medita tion are the chief functions of the orders for women. The total number of monks would be (1924) about 12,000, and nuns 42,00o. Spain possesses 66 cathedrals, 22 collegiate churches, 20,440 par ishes and 15,107 chapels. Liberty of worship is allowed.