sierra Morena 



171 



passed the firing-line, and every gun enjoyed his chance — several 

 more than one. In the result, six stags were killed — three by 

 our host, one by his son. Though carrying 12, 11, 10, and 10 

 points respectively, none of these four were of exceptional merit, 

 and the best, a 14-pointer, fell to the Duke of Medinaceli. 



The clean weight of these, the largest stags, is usually between 

 11|- and 12 arrobas, or 287 to 300 lbs. English. One exceptionally 

 heavy stag killed by our host's son, Juan Calvo, Junr., and which 

 had received some injury in the testes, resulting in a malformation 

 of the horn, weighed no less than 16|- arrobas, or 412 lbs. English. 



Full-grown wild-boars at Mezquitillas average about 7 arrobas, 

 or 175 lbs., clean — one specially big boar reached 8 arrobas, or 

 200 lbs. Wolves, though abundant, are but rarely shot in 

 rtionterias for the reasons already given. During the period 

 covered by these notes only two were killed in monterias — one 

 by Sr. Calvo, Junr., the other by Colonel Barrera. Wild-pigs 

 breed as a rule in March, and to some extent gregatim, or in 

 little colonies, which is supposed to be as a protection against the 

 wolves ; the lair [cama) being a regular nest made among thick 

 scrub, and roofed over by the foliage. Lynxes, like wolves, are 

 rarely seen. This year, four (a female, with three full-grown cuIjs) 

 were held-up by the dogs, and all killed in one thicket. 



Mongoose and genets are numerous on these brush-clad hills, 

 and martens [Mustela foina) breed in the crags. 



Stags roar from mid -September, chiefly by night. Their 

 summer coat is darker rather than redder than that of winter. 



Farther east in Morena, near Fuen-Caliente, already mentioned, 

 very fine heads are also obtained. The same systems prevail, and 

 the following measurements have been given us by the Marquez 

 del Merito, taken from two stags shot at Risquillo in his forests 

 of the Sierra Quintana, season ] 906-7. 



No. 1 carried 7 -h 7 = 14 points, and weighed 224 lbs. clean. 

 No. 2 carried 8 -f 7 = 15 points, besides several knobs. 



