Part 14 (2/2)

These, being cosmopolitans, remain precisely the same wherever on the earth's surface they happen to be found It is their sky they change, not their natural disposition or their fixed habits, ildfowl shi+ft their homes The difficulty is that not half-a-dozen men in a thousand understand wildfowl or the supreme difficulty which their pursuit entails, whether in Spain, England, or elsewhere

In England, it is true, such results are out of the question, sihly drained, cultivated, and populous Were it desired to recover for England those irant hosts--the operation would not be impossible--break down the Bedford Level and flood five counties! Then you ht enjoy in the Midlands such scenes as to-day we see in Spain

As a matter of siotism, or careless should such uncharitably be imputed--the results recorded below represent even for Spain so that approaches the hu skill, in endurance, and in deadly earnest

That test of individual skill has, itall these years times without nue, a score of un in one day 100 ducks in the open hly efficient, will secure his century, others (including excellent ga one-tenth of that nu run of years

A feature, ht they throw upon the varying distribution of the _Anatidae_ (both specifically and seasonably) in the south of Spain

1897 _Noveeese Forenoon at Santolalla 128 ducks Afternoon ” ” 2 stags

1897 _Noveeese (Geese, all the afternoon, came well in to decoys)

1898 _January_ 29, 30, and 31--TWO GUNS (W D M and W J B) 437 ducks, 17 geese

1903_January 18_--FLIGHT-SHOOTING WITH 12-BORE AT CAnO DULCE (ONE GUN)

139 Wigeon 32 Pintail 20 Teal 22 Shovelers 10 Gadwall 1 Mallard 3 Greylag Geese

Total, 224 ducks and 3 _geese_ About one-half shot on natural flight before 11 AM; the rest later, over ”decoys” Nice breeze all day

1903 _February_--THREE CONSECUTIVE DAYS' FLIGHTING (ONE GUN)

February 22 February 23 February 24

Pintaila 49 39 68 Wigeon 17 18 5 Shovelers 41 70 2 Teal 10 17 2 Gadwall 1 0 3 Marbled Duck 1 0 0 Garganey 1 1 0 Mallard 0 0 1 --- --- --- 120 145 81 = 346

On the 24th a succession of pintails ca of that species was made in double shots

1903 _March 4_--BEYOND DESIERTO, FLIGHTING (ONE GUN)

124 Teal 7 Pintail 2 Mallard 4 Shovelers

Put awayback in sh, and the _Viento de la mar_ (= sea-breeze) did not blow up till 5 PM Nine camels passed close by

1904 _November 8_--LAGUNA DE SANTOLALLA (ONE GUN)

102 Teal 14 Pochard 3 Gadwall 7 Mallard 3 Shovelers 6 Ferruginous Duck 25 Marbled Duck --- Total 159 Ducks