Part 15 (1/2)

1905 _November 8_--(P GARVEY, C D W, and B F B)

Santolalla 264 ducks

1905 _Deceeon 47 Teal 3 Pintail 3 Shovelers 1 Flao --- Total 178

1905-6 TWO DAYS AT CAnO DULCE (ONE GUN)

Dec 17, 1905 Feb 17, 1906

Wigeon 235 47 Shovelers 10 13 Pintail 18 62 Gadwall 6 0 Teal 2 6 Marbled Duck 1 0 Geese 1 2 ---- ---- 273 130

The total on December 17 represents the ”Record,” and was eese, see p 131) by B F B

The whole of the above records refer to flight-shooting with a 12-bore gun

Following is a list of the different ducks shot by one gun during two consecutive seasons:--

1902-3 1903-4

Wigeon 277 230 Pintail 267 28 Mallard 9 42 Gadwall 21 36 Shovelers 195 32 Teal 276 269 Garganey 2 1 Marbled Duck 4 51 Pochard[22] 1 0 Pochard, Crested 1 0 Tufted Duck 0 1 White-faced Duck 0 1 Unenumerated 191 0 ---- --- 1244 726

CHAPTER XIII

THE SPANISH IBEX

In the Spanish ibex Spain possesses not only a species peculiar to the Peninsula, but a game-animal of the first rank

Fortunate it is that this sentence can be written in the present tense instead of (as but a few years ago appeared probable) in the past

Since we first wrote on this subject in 1893 the Spanish ibex has passed through a crisis that came perilously near extirpation Up to the date nareat landowners of Spain, within whose titles were included the vast sierras and es that form its home, had cherished either pride or interest in the Spanish wild-goat Some were dimly conscious of its existence on their distant domains: but that was all Not a scintilla of reproach is here inferred For these es are so remote and so elevated as often to be alanised expedition independent of local aid Their sole huoat-herds, every man of them a born hunter, accustomed from time iardless of size, sex, or season That the ibex should have survived such persecution by hardyTheir survival was due to two causes--first, the antiquated weapons eame and the ”defence” it enjoyed in the stupendous precipices and snow-fields of those sierras, great areas of which reoat-herds, save only for a limited period in summer

But no wild animal, however astute or whatever its ”defence,” can withstand for ever perpetual, skilled hu the early years of the present century the Spanish ibex appeared doomed beyond hope Private efforts over such vast areas were obviously difficult, if not impossible

We rejoice to add that at this eleventh hour a new era of existence has been secured to _Capra hispanica_ at that precise psychologicalin their last throes The change is due to graceful action by the landowners in certain great s on the subject have also tended to assist, none surely will grudge the authors this expression of pride in having helped, however humbly, to preserve not only to Spain, but to the animal-world, one of its handsomest species

This new era took different forms in different places In certain sierras--those of less boundless area--the owners have undertaken the preservation of the ibex partly froame-beast adds to the value of barren itimate sport that an increase in stock may hereafter afford

But the main factor which has assured success (and which in itself led up to the private efforts just nareat Sierra de Gredos This elevated region is the apex of the long cordillera of central Spain, the Carpeto-Vetonico range, which extends froh the Castiles and Estreus and Douro It separates the two Castiles, and passing the frontier of Portugal is there known as the Serra da Estrella, which, with the Cintra hills, extends to the Atlantic sea-board Along all this extensive cordillera there is no hest peak, the Plaza de Almanzor, of 2661 metres altitude (= 8700 feet) above sea-level

In 1905, when the ibex were about at their last gasp, the proprietors of the _Nucleo central_, which we may translate as the _Heart_ of Gredos, of their own initiative, ceded to King Alfonso XIII the sole rights-of-chase therein, and His Majesty commissioned the Marquis of Villaviciosa de Asturias to appoint an adequate force of guards

Six guards were selected frooat-herds who, up to that date, had the to exter ibex of the sierra, and e had ourselves e various expeditions therein

[Illustration: ON THE RISCO DEL FRAILE

SPANISH IBEX IN SIERRA DE GReDOS]