106 



WILD SPAIN. 



killed a pretty right-antl-left at Haniingoes with No (5. 

 Happening to see them on the wing a long way off, I lay 

 down Hat among the low samphire-scrub and presently 

 had them (five) right overhead. Both these birds fell 

 stone-dead. On another occasion, many years before, at 

 the Yeta Lengua, our four barrels, each loaded with nine 

 treble-nesting slugs, brought down three fine flamingoes 

 from a herd rising at upwards of 180 measured paces. 

 But having obtained specimens, we did not further molest 

 these singular birds. 



A KIGHT-AND-LEFT AT FLAMINGOES. 



Flamingoes were not the sole attraction : the desolate 

 region around abounded with wild life, furred and feathered, 

 and many a pleasant bye-day was put in among the 

 "vermin." One morning we rode out to some distant 

 thickets where a neighbouring herdsman — half peasant, 

 half poacher — complained that a family of lynxes were 

 working havoc among his kids. Our friend, a man of 

 square iron -knit frame, with the eyes and claws of an 

 eagle, rode before us, no less than eleven wire-haired 

 piuJcitcos (hunting-dogs) made fast to his saddle-bow by 

 cords of twisted esparto. The first thicket tried held a 

 lynx, which, disturbed l)y the podcm-o.s, bolted at speed 



