the Ornithology of Spain. 179 



but it was by no means difficult to crawl to within such 

 a distance as to observe their habits through a glass. Even 

 when away from the influence of female society, they were 

 constantly swelling themselves up, ruffling their feathers in 

 the manner depicted in Mr. Wolf's admirable figures in 

 his ' Zoological Sketches ' and in Mr. Gould's ' Birds of Great 

 Britain/ and occasionally indulging in bickerings amongst 

 themselves, though I never witnessed a regular " set-to.^' 

 Besides stalking Bustards, we also obtained them in a some- 

 what poaching manner, by " shining '^ them at night with 

 a rough kind of dark lantern. It is dangerous work, as the 

 moment the light is displayed, on coming to their roosting- 

 ground,they dash about in the wildest confusion; and, besides that 

 twenty or thirty pounds weight charging against one is no joke, 

 there is a fair chance of getting a charge of slugs or large shot 

 at ten paces from one's comrades. We never succeeded in bag- 

 ging a very fine old male; the heaviest female I got weighed 181bs. 

 Spanish when cleaned. Of course Bustard-hunting involves 

 lying out all night, and for several nights in succession. The 

 main body of the Cranes had left ; but some remain to breed, 

 and we had a long and unavailable stalk after a pair. The half- 

 wild cattle are the greatest hindrance to the stalker, from their 

 curiosity, not to say downright hostility at times. At the best, 

 it is nervous work to find yourself the observed of some two 

 hundred cows, each watching jealously over her calf, especially 

 when you know that the said cows belong to the ganado hravo, 

 and that every one of them has taken four varas in a tentadero, 

 or trial of bravery, before slie was allowed the privilege of being- 

 considered a vaca brava. It is true, the districts of the ganado 

 hravo are limited and well known ; but if you want Bustards 

 yoii must follow them up everywhex-e. 



Our provisions ran short before we could get down to the 

 wooded Cotos del Key and de Dofiana ; but on the 30th April 

 we made another start. Our first nest was a Black Kite's [Mil- 

 vus migrans), which contained one egg quite fresh. In the 

 foundation of the nest was one of a Spanish Sparrow, with two 

 eggs. On this occasion I was accompanied by an Enghsh friend, 

 Manuel, and two of his sons, the youngest a regular monkey at 



N 2 



