154 Unexplored Spain 



Wolves 



These animals, which perpetrate incredible destruction to 

 game, are very abundant in Morena, yet rarely shot in the 

 Tnonterias (mountain-drives). This is not due to any special 

 astuteness of the wolf, but simply because, while waiting for deer, 

 sportsmen naturally lie very low, thus giving opportunity to 

 wolves to pass unseen ; while, on the other hand, when boars 

 only are expected, and sportsmen therefore remain less concealed, 

 the wolf is apt to detect the danger before arriving within shot. 



In May and June the she-wolves produce their young ; but it 

 is difficult to discover these broods, since at that period they 

 betake themselves to remote regions far away from the haunts 

 frequented in normal times. 



There is, however, one method of discovering them which is 

 known to the mountaineers as the oteo, or watching for them 

 over-night, thus noting precisely where each she-wolf gives tongue. 

 If on the following morning the howl is repeated at the same 

 spot, it is a practical certainty that that wolf will have her brood 

 in that immediate neighbourhood. 



Thereupon at daybreak the hunters proceed to examine every 

 bush and brake in the marked spot, which invariably consists 

 either of strons^ brushwood or broken rocks. All around the 

 actual lair for a hundred yards the ground is traced with foot- 

 prints and scratchings, which usually lead to its discovery ; but 

 should it not be found that day, it is completely useless to seek 

 for it on the following, since the moment that a she-wolf per- 

 ceives that her whelps are being sought, she at once removes 

 them far away. To exterminate wolves, strychnine is extensively 

 used, giving positive results.^ At the same time it is always 

 better to supplement its use by searching out with practical men 

 the broods of wolf-cubs at their proper season. 



The photo facing p. 158 shows a magnificent old dog-wolf, 

 scaling 93 lbs. dead-weioht, which we obtained in the Sierra 

 Morena, near Cordoba, in March 1909. 



^ Thirteen wolves were killed thus (and recovered) on the property of tlie Jlarqiiis del 

 Merito in the winter of 1906-7. 



