362 Unexplored Spain 



This, coupled with constant drip from the gigantic i)insiipos and 

 a bitter wind blowing through clothes already soaked, was . . . 

 well, comfortless and pretty hopeless to boot. Twice the dogs 

 gave tongue — and it could be nothing but ibex here; while I)., 

 who was posted on the left, heard the rattling of hoofs as a herd 

 passed within, as he reckoned, 200 yards. A second lot, followed 

 by dogs, was heard though not seen on the extreme right. The 

 pinsdpos at this season, and in such weather, form a favourite 

 resort, for we saw more sign hereabouts than on the high tops. 

 A levante wind in winter always means mist — and failure. 



The ibex in winter hold the hioh ground unless driven down 

 by snow. In spring and summer they come lower — even to cork- 

 oak levels — presumably to avoid contact with tame goats, then 

 pasturing on the tops. 



The east wind and focj continuino- a whole week, though we 

 tried all we knew, every effort was frustrated by atmospheric 

 obstruction. To drive ibex successfully, the skilled training of 

 the dogs is essential. Formerly there were goat-herds who 

 possessed clever dogs of great local repute. But these days of 

 "free-shooting" have passed away, and the ibex of Bermeja with 

 those of other Spanish sierras have recently fallen under the 

 beneficent tegis of " protection." 



Bird-life in winter is scarce. We noticed a few redwino-s 

 feeding on berries ; jays, partridges, and many wood-pigeons 

 picking up acorns. Vultures rarely appear here, but both golden 

 and Bonelli's eagles were observed, and in one mountain - 

 gorge a pair of lammergeyers have their stronghold, where 

 in 1891 we examined both their eyries, one containing a young 

 GijiJaetiis as big as a turkey. That was in March, at which 

 season hawfinches abounded in the pines, and at dawn the melody 

 of the blue thrush recalled Scandinavian springs and the redwing's 

 song. Another small bird caused recurrent annoyance while ibex- 

 driving. With a loud " Rat, tat, tat," resembling the patter of 

 horny hoofs on rock, its song commences ; then follows a hissing 

 note as of a heavy body passing through brushwood — for an 

 instant one expects the coveted game to appear. No, confound 

 that bird ! it's only a blackstart. 



We extract the following scene from Wihl Spain : — 



On the lifting of a cloud-bank which rested on the mountain-side, 

 I descried four ibex standing on a projecting rock in bold relief about 



