26o 



Unexplored Spain 



pride of sexual estate — resplendent in fierce whiskers and gorgeous 

 chestnut ruffs all distended with the seasonal condition. Court- 

 ship begins in ^larch, when the weird eccentric performances of 

 the males, Hashing alternately white and rich orange against their 

 green environment, lend a characteristic touch to the vernal 

 vegas — white specks that appear and disappear as the lovelorn 

 monsters revolve and disphiy, somewhat in the frenzied style of 

 the blackcock on our own northern moorlands. Ilechando la 

 rueda the Spanish call it, as an old harbon majestically struts 

 around turning himself, as it were, inside out before an assembled 

 harem that, to all appearance, takes no manner of interest in his 



fantastic performance — 

 perhaps the gentler sex 

 dissemble their depth of 

 feelino? Then occur 

 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^%|P'* ferocious duels between 



^^^"^J^^^^^^^M rival paladins. Long 



sustained are these and 

 conspicuous afar, albeit 

 not very deadly. No life- 

 blood may flow, but 

 feathers fly ere the point 

 of honour is settled and 

 the victor left in proud 

 possession. 

 These combats occur chiefly at break of day while tall herbage 

 yet remains soaked by nocturnal dews, and it occasionally 

 happens that some luckless champion, damaged and bedraggled, 

 and with plumage saturated through and through, when thus 

 encountered, is found unable to fly and so captured. Several 

 such instances came under our notice years ago and — rare 

 though they may be — misled us in Wild S2:)ain to conclude 

 that the incapacity arose from a spring-moult — similar to that of 

 wild-geese and of some ducks. That, however, was an error. 

 The loss of flight-power arises, as stated, from the damaged and 

 dew-saturated state of the primaries, as is concisely set forth in a 

 letter from our friend D. Jose Pan Elberto as follows : — 



Many persons undoubtedly believe (owing to bustards being captured 

 in spring unable to fly) that these birds moult all their quills at once. 

 That is not the case ; but since in spring, when the male-bustards engage 



'^mV^^' 



IIECHANDO LA RUEDA 



