Part 12 (1/2)

In ourthe last days of September, but it is a month later ere their full numbers are made up, and from that date until the end of February their defiant multitudes and the splendid difficulties of their pursuit afford a unique forree of wild sport perhaps unknown outside of Spain

Ride through the marisma in November; it is mostly dry, and autumn rains have merely refreshed the sun-baked alluvia and formed sporadic shallows, or _lucios_ as they are here terht ahead is a mile across, yet it is literally tessellated with a sonorous crowd With binoculars one distinguishes si space--and indeed the whole eese as thickly as it is on our iht and left rise fresh ar the _armajo_, till the very earth seems in process of upheaval, while the air resounds with a voluled with the ruian Skaargaard one can see geese in bulk, but there their numbers are distributed over a thousand e proportion--concentrated in what is by comparison but a narrow space

In their life-habits these geese are strictly diurnal, that is, they feed by day--chiefly in the early ain towards afternoon, with a ht they spend asleep on some broad _lucio_ or other bare open space That habit, however, is subject to eese avail thereater security than they can enjoy by day Their food consists exclusively of vegetable substances--at first of the rerass (_canaliza_), and other semi-aquatic plants; theirroots of spear-grass (_Cyperus longus_ and _C rotundus_) which they dig up froround

[Illustration: ROOT OF SPEAR-GRass]

When autu delayed, their voracious ar that re before the ”neater” frorounds In such cases the geese are forced to depart, and do so--so far as our observation goes--in the direction of Morocco; returning thence (within a few hours) immediately after rain has fallen

Their entry, on this second arrival, is invariably from the south and south-west--that is, froeese in the Spanish maris-flight, when the geese habitually come to ”take sand” at the dawn See next chapter

(2) ”Driving” during the day (available only in dry years)

(3) Awaiting their arrival at dusk at their _dor-places, see pp 97, 98

An all-important factor in their pursuit arises froeese constantly to possess, and frequently to renew, a store of sand or grit in their gizzards To obtain this they resort everyto certain sandy spots in the marismas (hereinafter described, and which are known as _vetas_); or failing that, when the said _vetas_ are subeese resort eachto these spots, yet those nuate, for no individual goose needs to replenish his supply of sand or grit more often than perhaps once a week, or even less frequently Hence at each dawn it is a fresh contingent of geese that comes in _para arenarse_ = to ”sand themselves,” as our keepers put it

One other quality in the natural econoeese requires eese possess in equal degree ild-ducks and most other wild creatures; but each class differ in theirhuman scent will take instant alareese, on the other hand, though their nostrils have fully advised the, but remain--with necks erect and all eyes concentrated towards the suspect point--awaiting confirht what they already know by scent

That such is the case we ascertained in the days (now long past) e ventured to stalk geese with no e of rush that borders the , our keepers ter flat for, it h sloppy mud with less than two-foot of cover Should it becoo directly to ard of the fowl, one's presence (though quite unseen) would be instantly detected The geese, ceasing to feed or rest, all stood to attention, while low, ru their lines But they did not take wing

Presently, however, one reached a gap in the thickly growing rushes--it limpse available to the keen eyes beyond, than the whole pack rose in sis They had merely waited that scintilla of ocular confirer

”DRIVING” (IN A DRY SEASON)

For four aped with cavernous cracks; vegetation was dried up; starving cattle stood about listless, and every day one saw the asse the carcases of those already dead

Froe one's eye surveyed--no longer an inland sea, but a h binoculars revealed the fact that this whole space was dotted with troops ofwell, a friend ith us thought they were sheep; but which, in fact, were bands of greylag geese

The fluctuations of Spanish seasons--varying froht--necessarily react upon the habits of wildfowl These changes are one of the charms of the country; at any rate, they ”stretch out” the fowler to devise sos posted out there on a vantage-ground where a ht be a prominent object at 100 yards, how can they be reduced to possession? Our friend aforesaid replies that the undertaking appears humanly impossible We have, nevertheless, elaborated a systeeese ree of certainty

This uns and four keepers, across that plain Upon approaching the pack of geese selected, one keeper rides to a position rather above the ”half-wind” line, and there halts as a ”stop” The reun, without checking his horse, passes the bridle forward and rolls out of the saddle with gun and gear, lying at once flat as a flounder on the bare dry un does the sa now extended in a half-moon that commands nearly a quarter- the other horses) continue riding forward in circular course till a second ”stop” is placed in the right flank corresponding with the one already posted on the left The last pair now coa by 200 yards as that position is attained (See diagrauns to conceal theht of wild-geese? Occasionally, soe may be found--such as tufts of rushes--and these are at once availed of But thisthere is no such aid Not a rush nor a mole-hill breaks that dead-level , however flat heere they arrive within shot[21] A dozen twigs of tree-heath, dipped in wet mud and then allowed to dry, so as to hars, may be utilised; but the annexed sketch shows better than words a portable screen we have devised and which fulfils this purpose It consists of four ba, sharpened at the point, and connected by four or five strings with one-foot intervals This when rolled up for one's post the bundle unrolls of itself, the sharpened points are stuck into the ground at an angle sloping towards the prostrate gun, a few tufts of dead grass (carried in one's pocket) are woven through the strings and the shelter is complete

Needless to say, these preparations must be carried out with the ilant foes So to watch the unner erects his screen

[Illustration: SHELTERS FOR DRIVING WILD-GEESE]

Well, the circle being complete, all four drivers (distant now, say, 1000 yards) converge on the co up the spear-grass, and now stand alert with a forest of necks erect, while an increasing volu suspicion Presently, with redoubled outcry, they rise on wing, and now couns, after all, coeese can break out scathless--and this mischance it is the object of our drivers and flankers to avert No sooner does the gaggling band shi+ft its course to port or starboard than the ”stop” on that side is seen to be urging his horse in full career to intercept their flight, yet using such judgment as will neither deflect their course too ether Soed at once, and a pretty sight it is to the prostrate gunners to watch the equestrian manoeuvres