28 



WILD SPAIN. 



between the " rights " of famihes and their insane relations 

 (or those whom the}' may consider such), is only too much 

 open to susi^icion. 



The day was still young when we mounted and set out 

 for the point where Alonzo's report had led us to hope for 

 success. The first covert tried was a strong jungle flank- 

 ing the main gorge ; but this, and a second hatida, proved 

 blank, only a few foxes appearing, and a wild cat was shot. 

 Two roe-deer were reported to have broken back, and 

 several mongoose, or ichneumon, were also observed 

 during these drives, but were always permitted to pass. 

 The Spanish ichneumon {Herpestes widdringtoni), being 

 peculiar to the Peninsula, deserves a passing remark ; it 

 is a strange, grizzly-grey beast, shaggy as a badger, but 

 more slim in build, with the brightest of bright black eyes, 

 and a very long bushy tail. Owing to his habit of eating 

 snakes and other reptiles (in preference, it would seem, to 

 rabbits, &c.), the ichneumon stinks beyond other beasts of 

 prey. A large black ichneumon happened to be the first 

 game that fell to the writer's rifle in Spain, and was care- 

 fully stowed in the mule-panniers — never to be seen agam ; 

 ■for no sooner were our backs turned, than the men dis- 

 creetly pitched out the malodorous trophy. 



As we approached our third beat — the main manchas, 

 or thickets of the Boca de la Foz, the " roofings " and 

 recent sign of pig became frequent, and we advanced to 

 our allotted positions in silence, leavmg the horses picketed 

 far in the rear. 



The line of guns occupied the ridge of a natural amphi- 

 theatre, which dipped shai'iily away beneath us, the centre 

 choked with strong thorny jungle. On the left towered a 

 range of limestone crags, the right flank being hemmed in 

 by huge uptilted rocks, like ruined towers, and white as 

 marble. One of us occupied the centre, the other guarded 

 a pass among these pinnacle rocks on the right. While 

 waiting at our posts we could descry the beaters, mere 

 dots, winding along the glen, 1,500 feet below. The 

 mountain scenery was superb ; but no sound broke the 

 stillness save the distant tinkle of a croat-l)ell ; nor was 



