158 



WILD SPAIN. 



The next spectacle was less welcome. On the height of 

 the ridge, high above iis, we descried against the sky-line 

 the crouching figure of a man, stealthily advancing as 

 though in touch of game. This ill-omened apparition, as 

 the sequel proved, was the key-note of this campaign : the 

 Hcinaua Hctiita of Easter-tide had commenced, we were fore- 

 stalled Ijy native cazadores, and a carefully-ijlanned and 

 well-organized exhibition resulted in comparative failure. 



IBEX (FEMALE)- BERMEJA. 



Nor had the danger of this been entirely unforeseen, but 

 adverse circumstances had delayed our movements. 



Despite our local competitors, luck at first seemed in- 

 clined to be propitious. While going to our positions, 

 along the knife-edged spur that enclosed our glen, an ibex 

 fell to the rifle of one of our party, who had come suddenly 

 on five (four good males) quietly feeding in a pine-clad 

 corrie, and a standing shot, at 70 yards, secured one — un- 

 fortunately the only cabra ,• for, their heads 



being 



con- 



