^54 



Unexplored Spain 



precise psychological moment to spring up to shooting-position. 

 This indeed is a feature common to most forms of wild-shootina" 

 — such as duck-fiighting, driving geese or even snipe ; in fact 

 there is hardly a really wild creature that can be dealt with from 

 a comfortable position erect on one's legs. Imagine partridge- 

 shooters at home, instead of standing comfortably protected by 

 hedge or butt, being told to hide themselves on a wet plough or 

 bare stubble. Here, in Spain, it may also be necessary to conceal 

 the gun under one's right side (to avoid sun-glints), and that also 

 loses a moment. 



All one's care and elaborate strategy is ofttimes nullified 

 through the blunders of a novice. Some men have no more 

 sense of concealment than that fabled ostrich which is said to 



BUSTARDS PASSING FULL BROADSIDP] 



hide its head in the sand (which it doesn't) ; others can't keep 

 still. These are for ever poking their heads up and down or — 

 worse still — trying to see what is occurring in front. We may 

 conclude this chapter with a hint or two to new hands. 



Never move from your prone position till the bustard are in 

 shot, and after that, not till you are sure the whole operation is 

 complete. There may yet be other birds enclosed though you 

 do not know it. 



Never claim to have wounded a bustard merely because it 

 passed so near and offered so easy a shot that you can't believe 

 you missed it. You did miss it or it would be lying dead 

 behind. 



All the same keep one eye on any bird you have fired at so 

 long as it remains in view. Bustards shot through the lungs 

 will sometimes fly half a mile and then drop dead. 



