136 



Unexplored Spain 



something that approaches the human maximum ahke in wild- 

 fowling skill, in endurance, and in deadly earnest. 



That test of individual skill has, it may go without saying, 

 been demonstrated during all these years times without numl)er. 

 There are not, within tlie authors' knowledge, a score of men who 

 have fairly gathered to their gun in one day 100 ducks in the 

 open marisma. Again, while one such gun, who is thoroughly 

 efficient, will secure his century, others (including excellent 

 game-shots) will fail to bag one-tenth of that number. There 

 can be no question here of " luck " in that long run of years. 



A feature, more valuable than the figures themselves, is the 

 light they throw upon the varying distribution of the Anatidae 

 (both specifically and seasonably) in the south of Spain. 



1897. November 10.— One Gun (W. J. B.) 

 Dawn at El Puntal .... 6 geese 



Forenoon at Santolalla . . . .128 ducks 



Afternoon „ „ .... 2 stags 



1897. November 2.5.— Las Nuevas (C. D. W. and B. F. B.) 



307 ducks, 53 geese 



TGee-se, all the afternoon, came well in to decoys) 



1898. Januarii 29, 30, and 31.— Two Guns (W. D. M. and W. J. B.) 

 437 ducks, 17 geese 



1903. January 18. — Flight-Shooting with 12-bore at Cano Dulce (one Gun) 



139 Wigeon 

 32 Pintail 

 20 Teal 

 22 Shovelers 

 10 Gadwall 

 1 Mallard 

 3 Greylag Geese 

 Total, 224 ducks and 3 geese. About one-half shot on natural flight liefore 

 11 A.M. ; the rest later, over " decoy.s." Nice breeze all day. 



1903. February. — Three Consecutive Days' Flighting (one Gun) 



Felnuary 22. February 23. February 24. 



Pintails 49 39 68 



Wigeon 



Shovelers 



Teal . 



Gadwall 



Marbled Duck 



Gargancy 



Mallard 



