48 Unexplored Spain 



into definite " beats," each of wliich lias its own name ; though 

 to a casual visitor (since guns are necessarily placed differently 

 day by day according to the wind) the actual boundaries may 

 appear indefinite enough. 



On lowlands such as the Goto Dofiana, which is more or less 

 level and open, the use of ftir-ranging rifles is necessarily restricted 

 by considerations of safety. Obviously no shot, on any pretext 

 whatever, may be fired either into the beat or until the game 

 has passed clear of and well outside the line of guns. In every 

 instance, as a gun is placed, the keeper in charge indicates by 

 lines drawn in the sand or other unmistakable means the limits 

 within which shooting is absolutely prohibited. The result, it 

 follows, not only increases the prospective difficulty of the shot, 

 but gives fuller scope to the instinctive intelligence of the game. 

 For deer, unlike some winged game, do not, when driven, dash 

 precipitately straight for illusory safety, but retire slowly and 

 with extreme circumspection ; all old stags, in particular, fully 

 anticipate hidden dangers to lie on their line of flight, and 

 narrowly scrutinise any suspicious feature ahead before taking- 

 risks. The gunner will therefore be wise to occupy the few 

 minutes that remain available in so arranging both himself and 

 his post as to be inconspicuous ; and also in an accurate survey 

 of his environment with its probable chances, thereby minimising 

 the danger of being taken by surprise. The cunning displayed by 

 an old stag when endeavouring to evade a line of guns at times 

 approaches the marvellous. Thus, on one occasion, the writer 

 was warned of the near approach of game by a single " clink " — 

 a noise which deer sometimes make, probably unintentionally, 

 with the fore-hoof — yet seconds elapsed, and neither sight nor 

 sound were vouchsafed. Then the slightest quiver of a bough 

 beneath caught my eye. A big stag with antlers laid flat aback, 

 and crouching to half his usual height, though going fairly fast, 

 was slipping, silent and invisible, through thick but low brush- 

 wood immediately beneath the little hillock whereon I lay. On 

 examining the spot, the spoor showed that he had passed thus 

 through openings barely exceeding two feet in height, though he 

 stood himself forty-six inches at the withers. The feat appeared 

 impossible.^ 



1 We have known the spoor of a wounded stag pass heneath strong interlacing brandies 

 so low that, in following, we have had to wriggle under on hands and knees. The spoor 

 showed there had been no such cervine necessity. 



