100 A Day in a Laguna 
sanctuary, upon which the gallant little birds make up a party to 
mob and harass the big intruder, dipping and striking at him from 
above until he makes off. 
As already mentioned, when wading about in these lagunas 
I carry a long stick such as all cattle-herds use in Spain. It enables 
me to plumb the depths, and saves many a fall either from the 
uneven bottom or when the reeds and water-plants get around my 
feet. When carrying photographic apparatus, a fall in 3 ft. of water 
may spell untold disaster. 
Very often when working about these marshes you come right 
upon bulls or cows which have betaken themselves to the reed-beds 
to avoid the flies and heat of the day. On such occasions a good 
bull-stick affords at least some moral support and one which has at 
times extricated me from awkward situations. What would be its 
precise effect on a bull which meant to be disagreeable I cannot 
say and I hope never to test. I once asked a famous old bull-herd 
whether in such an untoward case, I could not with my steel-pointed 
garrocha intimidate the brute. He replied, drily, ‘‘ Ya vendra 
mas pronto,” ‘‘He’d only come at you all the quicker”; not very 
encouraging to the amateur bull-fighter ! 
