134 Unexplored Spain 



movements ; then for u full hour or more might follow a spell 

 of absolute silence and an empty sky. Almost the whole of 

 these successive flights concentrated on No. 2 — such is fowler's 

 luck, — so that by dusk 1 had gathered 105 ducks, 3 geese, 

 3 flamingoes, and 4 godwits ; total, 115. The next gun 

 (J. C. C), though only 200 yards away, in No. 3, had but 30 

 ducks ; while the others had practically had no shooting all day. 

 Bertie, however, two miles away at the Desierto, added 65 

 — bringing the day's total to 268 ducks, 8 geese, etc. Three 



guns left to-nio-ht. 



Next day at the 

 Canaliza, Bertie and 

 I had 70 ducks by 

 noon, when (by 

 reason of intense 



GODWITS 



sun -glare at the 

 point) I shifted back to my yesterday's post — two hours' tramp 

 through sticky mud and w^ater, with a load of cartridges, ducks, 

 etc. Thereat in one hour (4 to 5 p.m.) I secured 56 ducks, 

 bringing my total for the two days — a record in my humble 

 way, but surpassed threefold, as will be seen on following pages 

 — to over 200 head, and for the party, to precisely 500 (491 

 ducks and 9 geese), besides flamingoes, ruffs, grey-plover, etc. 



A curious incident occurred on February 11 (1907). But 

 few ducks — and they all teal — had " flighted " early, and a strong 

 west wind having " blown " the water, my post was left near 

 dry. Just as I prepared to move 300 yards eastward, a 

 marvellous movement of teal commenced. On the far horizon 

 appeared three whirling clouds, each perhaps 100 yards in length 

 by 20 in depth, and all three waltzing and wheeling in marshalled 

 manoeuvres down channel towards me. To right and left in 

 rhythmical revolutions swept those masses, doubling again and 

 again upon themselves with a precision of movement that passes 

 understanding. Each unit of those thousands, actuated by 

 simultaneous impulse, changed course while moving at lightning 

 speed ; and with that changed course they changed also their 

 colour, flashing in an instant from dark to silvery white, while 

 the roar of wings resembled an earthquake. 



All three clouds had already passed along the deeper water 



