338 Unexplored Spain 



guus from 100 to '200 yards apart and upwards, each intent 

 on the larger game, the secretive alimanas easily get through 

 — indeed, wolves and even big boars, though the crash of 

 brushwood may be heard, often pass unseen. 



Many unconventional days have the authors enjoyed in 

 express pursuit of these keen-eyed creatures — call them vermin if 

 you will. There are four methods which we have found effective : 



1. Short drives of individual jungles where sufficient open 

 spaces occur to leeward to enable the game to be seen. 



2. Long drives of extensive jungles, converging on guns placed 

 at points that either command the probable lines of retreat, or 

 cover some other favourite resort wherein the quarry is likely to 

 seek refuge. 



3. Calling — in Spanish, cMUando. 



4. Watching at dawn or dusk, either with or without a 

 "drag." 



1. The first plan is, of course, the simplest; but it must be 

 borne in mind that this is essentially close-quarters' work — hence 

 the utmost silence is necessary. Horses must be picketed at least 

 a mile back, for the clank of hoof on rock or the clashing of the 

 bucket-like Spanish stirrups in bush will awaken even a dormouse. 

 All proceed on foot ; and the whole plan having been arranged 

 beforehand, not a word need now be spoken, each gun taking 

 his allotted place in silence. Guns may be as far as 100 yards apart 

 (since mould-shot is efi'ective up to nearly that range) and each 

 man should station himself looking into the beat, so as to command 

 the intervening "opens," while himself absolutely concealed 

 and still as a stone god, since he is now competing with some of 

 the keenest eyes on earth. All the cats, moreover, come on so 

 stealthily, making good their advance yard by yard, that quite 

 possibly a great tawny lynx may be coolly surveying your position 

 ere your eye has caught the slightest movement ahead. 



Nothing emphasises the amazing stealth of these silent 

 creatures more than such incidents : when suddenly you find, 

 within twenty yards, a wild beast, standing nearly two feet at 

 shoulder, slowly approaching through quite thin bush ; how, in 

 wonder's name, did it get so near unseen ? Foxes, as a rule, come 

 bundling along with far less precaution and no such vigilant look- 

 out ahead, though they will instantly detect the least movement 



