46 On the Guaclal quiver. 



V. Flowery Plains and Bustards. 



MUCH has been written concerning the great bustard, 

 but I cannot conclude these articles without a 

 brief reference to this noble bird, once so common 

 on our own downs and plains. In the south of Spain the 

 great bustard is still abundant, and is always likely to 

 remain so. We made two or three short expeditions in 

 search of these birds and were always fortunate in seeing 

 them, but only on one occasion were we lucky enough to 

 bring one to bag. 



The country by the river, just below Seville, is admirably 

 suited to the habits of the bustard. The land here is a 

 level plain, like the true marismas which lie further down 

 the river, but unlike the barren marismas, the soil of this 

 land is fertile and produces luxuriant crops of grass and 

 corn. The grass and corn, besides providing them with 

 ample food, form admirable cover for the great bustards 

 when they most need it — in the breeding season. 



To this country, then, we devoted a day in the hope of 

 seeing this, the noblest of game birds, at close quarters ; 

 but to get to close quarters was no easy task. The stalking 

 horse, our deadliest weapon in the marismas, was of no 

 avail, and other methods had to be used. Our men rode 

 the horses, while we walked behind them. We passed 

 through enormous expanses — one cannot call them fields — 



