444 WILD SPAIN. 



half-light, which are sufficiently exciting to make this sport a 

 favourite with the valientes of Estremadura. 



It is possible that, on the southern plains, pig-sticking might 

 be attempted. The country is, however, very rough, much 

 intercepted with cane-brakes and dense jungles of matted 

 brushwood and briar. 



In the vast cane-brakes which fringe the Guadiana are 

 found enormous boars, whose tusks, as they charge, resemble a 

 white collar encircling the neck. 



We have noticed the young following their mothers as early 

 as January. The piglings are at first pretty little beasts, 

 yellowish-brown, striped longitudinally with black bars. In 

 May we have observed the old sows and young associated into 

 herds of twenty or more. 



Wolf (Canis lupus). 

 Spanish : Lobo. 



These Ishmaelites of the animal-world, though common 

 enough in all the wilder regions of Iberia, rarely j^resent them- 

 selves as a mark for the rifle-ball. Many-fold more cunning 

 than the fox, the wolf never — not for a single instant — forgets 

 the risk of danger nor his human enemies. When aroused in a 

 monteria, or mountain-drive, wolves come slowly forward, feeling 

 their way like tield-mai'shals in an enemy's country, and on 

 reaching some strong crag or thicket, lie down, awaiting the 

 arrival of the beaters, who must pass on one side, when the 

 stealthy bi'ute slinks back on the other. 



Wolves change their residence according to the season. In 

 summer, when the peasants' goats and sheep are pastured on the 

 hills, they inhabit the highest sierras ; in winter, when the stock 

 is removed to lower ground, there are the wolves also. 



In all parts of Spain, it is customary for herdsmen to remain 

 in constant attendance on their flocks by day and night, to 

 protect them from the ravages of wolves and other " beasts of 

 the field." In parts of Southern Estremadura aud in the Sierra 

 Nevada, it is sometimes necessary to keep fires burning at night, 

 and shots are also fired at intervals, to secure the flocks from 

 attack. When encamped, in the neighbourhood of Almaden, 

 some years ago, we used to hear the packs of wolves keep up a 

 concert of unearthly howls the livelong night. 



