OTIS TARDA. 255 



I have seen an old male when winged and, as it were, brought to 

 bay, turn round and charge his pursuer. This diversion of 

 Bustard-driving is rather an expensive pastime, and often, like 

 the Irishman's pig, they refuse to be driven in the required 

 direction ; so, beyond the novelty of the affair, and the sight of 

 so many of these truly noble birds on the wing, there is nothing 

 very exciting in the sport, if it may be so called ; and, as in all 

 " driving," there is no sporting-skill required on the part of the 

 shooter. . Nevertheless the thorough enjoyment of the bright and 

 glorious climate, and the sense of freedom to go where you wish 

 without being warned off as a trespasser, and last, but not least, 

 the sociable nature of the " entertainment," render a few days' 

 Bustard-driving very agreeable : they ought not to be shot after 

 the third week in April, as they then begin to lay; but most 

 of those killed, I am sorry to say, are destroyed during the 

 breeding-season. There is, morever, the lamentable fact that the 

 game is not very much worth having, the flesh being dry and 

 coarse ; at least such has been the case with almost all that I 

 have tasted. 



One circumstance in favour of these excursions after Bustard 

 is that they are easily managed from Seville by starting by the 

 early morning train and returning late in the evening, and there 

 is no trouble in having to search for uncomfortable country 

 quarters for the night. 



The man we always employed to drive was one Molino, of 

 Algaba, a small village or pueblo on the Guadalquivir, above 

 Seville, a wiry active little fellow, but with an enormous capacity 

 for meat and wine. He never attempted to drive the birds with 

 more than three men, including himself; but his skilful manage- 

 ment, owing to his knowledge of the birds and the ground, and 

 consequently of the route they would take, was something 

 marvellous. Molino was always employed by some Sevillanos, 

 who regularly several times in the spring go out dressed in green, 

 like Free Foresters at the Crvstal Palace : and a suitable dress it 



