A FAVOURITE FEEDING PLACE. 189 



The sportsmen (or party) having encamped on the 

 firm, close sward that reaches to its edge, will now 

 have time to turn their attention to the stretch of 

 country that is situated in front, and therefore to the 

 east of him. For over a mile in breadth (how many 

 in length it would be hard to say) extends ^.campania 

 that it would be difficult to find excelled in any part 

 of the world, when field sports with dog and gun are 

 the objects sought for. The greater portion of this 

 terrain is covered with crisp, close, and most verdant 

 grass, very seldom broken by cultivation, and where 

 such does occur, it is only in minute patches of barely 

 an acre or so in extent. The Moors are but poor 

 husbandmen, so the stubbles and spilt grain they leave 

 behind them afford not only an abundance of cover, 

 but plenty of food for both fur and feather. Adjoining 

 these miniature fields are always to be found large 

 areas of palmetto, the reason for this being so is in the 

 opinion of the inhabitants, where this beautiful graceful 

 shrub grows, the soil is certain to be rich, and to have 

 lain a long time fallow, so they break soil beside it, 

 or cultivate in its midst. Through the centre of this 

 meadow, for such it can justly be designated flows 

 a most tortuous, sluggish stream, sunk eight or ten 

 feet beneath the level of the upper margin of its 

 banks. The surface of this watercourse is covered 

 in many places with dense masses of aquatic vegeta- 

 tion, springing from the richest alluvial soil. Wild 

 duck and teal love such feeding grounds when 

 found in any other part of the world, and why should 

 they not do so here ? They do, and many a broad 

 bill of either of the above species will be added to 

 the bag before the day's work is finished. The web- 

 footed gentry are not timid here, for you will frequently 

 see them drop into this time-worn watercourse, a 

 hundred, or even fewer, yards in front of you. 



Red-legged partridge, quail, a.nd hares will also 

 be found abundant, as well as a beautiful little 



