The Great Bustard 245 



animals drink their fill, splashing and wasting as much as they 

 consume, so that a puddle is always formed about these hebideros. 

 The moisture only extends a few yards, gradually diminishing, 

 till the trickling streamlet is lost in the famishing soil. 



These moist places are a fatal trap to the bustard. Before 

 dawn one of the farm-people wnll conceal himself so as to command 

 at short range all points of the miniature sw^amp. A slight hollow 

 is dug for the purpose, having clods arranged around, between 

 which the gun can be levelled with murderous accuracy. As day 

 begins to dawn, the bustard will take a flight in the direction of 

 the well, alighting at a point some few hundred yards distant. 

 They satisfy themselves that no enemy is about, and then, with 

 cautious, stately step, make for their morning draught. One big- 

 bird steps on ahead of the rest ; and as he cautiously draws near, 

 he stops now and again to assure himself that all is right and that 

 his companions are coming too — these are not in a compact body, 

 but following at intervals of a few^ yards. The leader has reached 

 the s})ot where he drank yesterday ; now he finds he must go a little 

 nearer to the well, as the streamlet has been diverted ; another 

 bird follows close ; both lower their heads to drink ; the gunner has 

 them in line- — at twenty paces there is no escape ; the trigger is 

 pressed, and two magnificent bustards are done to death. Should 

 the man be provided with a second barrel (which is not usual), a 

 third victim may be added to his morning's spoils. 



Comparatively large numbers of bustard are destroyed thus 

 every summer. It is deadly w-ork and certain. Luckily, however, 

 the plan enjoys but a single success, since bands, once shot at, 

 never return. 



A second primitive method of capturing the great bustard is 

 practised in wdnter. The increased value of game during the 

 colder months induces the bird-catchers, who then supply the 

 markets with myriads of ground-larks, linnets, buntings, etc., 

 occasionally to direct their skill tow^ards the capture of bustard 

 by the same means as prove efficacious with the small fry — that 

 is, the cencerro, or cattle-bell, combined with a dark lantern. 



As most cattle carry the cencerro around their necks, the 

 sound of the bell at close quarters by night causes no alarm to 

 ground-birds. The bird-catcher, w^ith his bright lantern gleaming 

 before its reflector and the cattle-bell jingling at his wrist, prowls 

 nightly around the stubbles and wastes in search of roosting birds. 



