The River. 



while we explored the marismas. I shall reserve for my 

 next article the description of what we saw and obtained 

 in this wilderness of water and roud, scantily covered with 

 coarse vegetation. There was little to be seen from our 

 boat. A great expanse — flat and unbroken, save for a few 

 cattle, a reed hut or two, and a distant clump of trees — 

 stretching away to the horizon in front, while the river, 



Fig. I. — Stalkiug ia tlie Marismas. 



with its muddy waters and calm surface, flowed evenly 

 behind us. 



There is a very general idea that in a wild and un- 

 cultivated country where few human beings are to be 

 found the birds are much tamer than in a populous 

 country such as England. We did not find this to be the 

 case in Andalucia ; indeed, many birds which we had 

 always considered tame and confiding in England were 

 quite the reverse in the marismas. Those who have 



