96 WILD SPAIN. 



is more or less under daily inspection. And, as the camel 

 is a grazing animal, it would naturally be found in the more 

 open parts of these marismas or marshes, where they 

 could hardly have avoided detection and, as a certain con- 

 sequence, capture or death for so long a period as you 

 mention. 



" So valuable an animal would be such a prize to the 

 poor Spanish peasants, that they would turn out to a man 

 to obtain it ; and there are, besides, too many English 

 sportsmen at Seville and Jerez to allow the chance of so 

 novel a chase to slip through their hands unnoticed. 



" I may mention that a company is in existence for the 

 drainage and better utilization of these marismas of Lebrija, 

 and I can hardly imagine that such animals as camels 

 could have escaped the notice of their surveyors and staff 

 during their detailed surveys of the district. 



" I may add, that my friend, the Belgian Consul at 

 Seville, happens to be with me now, and quite agrees with 

 what I have said. It would be very interesting if you could 

 obtain any further news about these strange wanderers." 



To this the following foot-note was appended by the 

 Editor of Tit e Field : — "It is somewhat strange that our 

 correspondent should ask for further information respect- 

 ing animals whose existence he regards as ' utterly in- 

 credible.' But the statement has not been made that 

 there are wild camels anywhere near Seville. The districts 

 explored by Mr. Abel Chapman are far removed from 

 human habitation, and are not those in which herds of 

 domestic cattle are ever seen. The fact that Mr. Chapman 

 described for the first time the singular nests of the 

 flamingo, which exists there in colonies, that have never 

 before been figured [see next chapter] , proves that neither 

 Iiildirati nor his friend can know the country well, and 

 that ' every foot of ground ' cannot possibl}^ as he states, 

 ' be open to daily inspection.' The fact that the camels 

 have been observed on different occasions by two well- 

 known naturalists — men trained to the close and accurate 

 observation of animals, who both give their names — 

 should have entitled their remarks to a different reception." 



