42 BIRD-HUNTING 



shores, and wading about in the water, are countless 

 thousands of marsh birds — Godwits, Curlews, Knots, 

 Dunlins, Plovers, Stilts, and Avocets. For through 

 these marismas must pass twice each year more 

 than half of the wading birds bound for the north 

 of Europe. Those Knots, for instance, are not 

 stopping here, but merely feeding and resting on 

 their long journey to their nesting-grounds round 

 the Pole. To-morrow they will probably have 

 passed on and their places will have been taken 

 by others. The deeper pools, fringed with reeds 

 and tamarisks, are resorted to by the beautiful 

 Southern Herons, which nest in great numbers on 

 the submerged bushes. 



This year, however, in April, where there should 

 have been this great expanse of water, alive with 

 an infinite variety of graceful bird forms, there was 

 absolutely no water at all for miles. The ground 

 was perfectly dry and baked by the sun to the hard- 

 ness of brick. Around the few damp spots in the 

 deeper parts where there still lingered a little 

 moisture were pitiable groups of half-starved cattle 

 and horses, struggling in the stiff mud up to their 

 bellies in order to reach what little vegetation still 

 remained, and find a few drops of water to quench 

 their thirst. It was a dreadful sight ; and if this 

 was the state of affairs in April one does not like 

 to think of their sufferings during the long, scorching 



