A Spanish System of Fowling 375 



shape cajones of native gunners be so classed, they are at once 

 recognised as wholly and solely hostile.^ 



One plan remained by whicdi the big gun might be brouorht 

 to bear upon the larger bodies of fowl : conce;iling the boat among 

 sedges at some point where ducks had been observed to assemble 

 within reach of such covert. That, however, to begin with, was 

 most uncertain — the only certainty was that enormous drafts on 

 patience would be required ; and, after all, it forms no part of the 

 system of wildfowling afloat and lacks the joys and glories of that 

 pursuit. 



Wild Swans in Spain 



Since meeting with four hoopers in February 1891, as recorded 

 in Wild S2JCci7i, we had neither seen nor heard of wild swans in 

 Southern Spain till February of the present year, 1910, when 

 H.R.H. the Duke of Orleans kindly informed us that he had 

 succeeded in shooting one of a pair met with in his marismas of 

 Villamanrique. It proved to be an adult male of Bewick's swan 

 — the first occurrence of that species that has been recorded in 

 Spain. 



^ Similar results followed on the Laguna de Jaiida. That great shallow lake abounds in 

 winter witli both ducks and geese ; but differs from the marismas in being sweet water, 

 hence is not frequented bj' liamingoes. Another point of difference is that its shores are 

 occupied by wild bulls instead of brood-mares ; hence the cabrcsto-])ony is not available. 

 Wildfowl here also proved inaccessible to a gunning-punt on open waters ; while wherever 

 reeds or sedge promised some " advantage," in such places the depth of water was always 

 insufficient to float the lightest of craft within range. The best shot made during four 

 seasons realised but twenty-three (seven geese and sixteen duck) — a paltry total. Occasion- 

 ally a great bustard was shot from the gunboat. 



