Sketches of Spanish Bird-Life 399 



my neighbour, Sir Maurice de Bunseu, who might thus have been 

 taken unawares ; only ambassadors are never believed to be so, 

 and on this occasion the spotted diplomat certainly got the ball 

 quite right, behind the shoulder. 



Marsh-Harrier (Circus aeruginosus). — Over dark wastes 

 resound "duck-guns sullenly booming." Thereat from reed-bed 

 and cane-brake awaken roosting harriers, quick to realise the 

 import. It is long before their normal " hours of business," but 

 these miss no chances, and soon the hidden gunner descries 

 spectral forms drifting in the gloom — all intent to share his 

 spoils. Watch the robbers' methods. In the deep a winged teal 

 is making away, almost awash. The raptor feints again and 

 again, following the cripple's subaquatic course ; but he never 

 attempts to strike till incessant diving has worn the victim out. 

 Then — so soon as the luckless teal is compelled to tarry five 

 seconds above water — instantly those terrible talons close like a 

 rat-trap. Next comes a lively wigeon, merely wing-tipped ; but 

 the water here is shoal and the hawk dare not close. For the 

 volume of mud and spray thrown up by those whirling pinions 

 would drench his own plumage. The wigeon realises his advan- 

 tage and sticks to the shallow — the raptor ever trying to force 

 him to the deep. The end comes all the same, though the process 

 of tiring-out occupies longer — sooner or later, down drop the yellow 

 legs — there is a moment of strenuous struggle and the duck is 

 lifted and borne ashore. Should no land be near, the branches of 

 a submerged samphire will serve for a dining-table. Within five 

 minutes nought is left but empty skin and clean-picked bones. 



Obviously any attempt to seek dead at a distance or to recover 

 cripples is labour lost — once they drift, or swim, or dive, to the 

 danger-radius instantly the chattel passes to the rival " sphere of 

 influence." 



As early as February (and sometimes even in Januar}^) the 

 abounding coots begin to lay. The marsh-harrier notes the date 

 and becomes a determined oologist. Over the everlasting 

 samphire-swamp resounds the reverberating cry of the crested 

 coot, Hoo, hoo, Hoo, hoo, so strikingly human that one looks 

 round to see who is signalling. Presently you hear the same 

 cry, but wailing in different tone and temi)er. That is a coot 

 defending hearth and home against the despoiler ; and bravely is 

 that defence maintained. With a glass, one sees the coot throw 



