64 Unexplored Spain 



life around you — the habit will leave green memories when the 



keener zest for bigger game shall 

 have dimmed — but never be caught 

 naj)ping, or let a silent stag pass 

 by while your whole attention is 

 concentrated on a tarantula ! 



By way of illustrating the practice 

 of " driving," we annex three or four 

 typical instances : — 



A TARANTULA. 



Las Angosturas, February 5, 

 1907. — The writer's post was in a green glade surrounded by 

 pine-forest. A heavy rush behind was succeeded (as anticipated) 

 by the appearance of a big troop of hinds followed by two small 

 staofories. A considerable distance behind these came a sinorle 

 good stag, and already the sights had covered his shoulder, when 

 from the corner of an eye a second, wdth far finer head, flashed 

 into the j^icture, going hard, and I decided to change beasts. It 

 was, how^ever, too late. Half automatically, while eyes wandered, 

 fingers had closed on trigger. At the shot the better stag 

 bounded off* with great uneven strides through the timber, 

 off"ering but an uncertain mark. Both animals, however, were 

 recovered. The first, an eleven -pointer, lay dead at the exact 

 spot ; the second was brought to bay within 300 yards, a 

 fine royal. 



Los NovARROS, January 9, 1903. — My post was among a 

 grove of pine-saplings in a lovely open plain surrounded by 

 forest. Two good stags trotted past, full broadside, at 80 yards. 

 The first dropped in a heap, as though pole-axed, the second 

 receiving a ball that clearly indicated a kill. While reloading, 

 noticed with surprise that No. 1 had regained his legs and was 

 oft' at speed. A third bullet struck behind ; but it was not till 

 two hours later, after blood-spooring for half a league, that we 

 recovered our game. The first shot had struck a horn (at 

 junction of trez tine) cutting it clean in two. This had moment- 

 arily stunned the animal, but the eff"ect had passed oft' within 



(chiefly within the Arctic) and only descends to England in winter. Besides the harsh note 

 mentioned above, the southern shrike, in spring, utters a piping whistle not unlike a 

 golden plover. 



