38 



WILD SPAIN. 



a load of straw. The search for bustard now begins, and 

 well do we remember the terrible suffocating heat' we have 

 endured, shut up in this thing for hours in the blazing 

 days of July and August. Bustards being found, the 

 bullocks are cleverly directed, gradually circling inwards, 

 the goad during the final moments freely applied. When 

 the cart is stopped, instantly the birds rise. Previous to 

 finding game, each man has made for himself a hole in the 

 estera, through which he has been practising the handling 

 of his gun. So far as practice goes, his arrangements 

 appear perfect enough ; but somehow, when the cart stops, 

 the birds rise, and the moment for action has arrived, the 

 game seems always to fly in a direction you cannot com- 

 mand, or where the narrow slit will not allow you to cover 

 them. Hence we have adopted the plan of sliding off 

 behind just as the cart was pulling up, thus firing the two 

 barrels with much greater freedom. We have enjoyed excel- 

 lent sport by this means, and succeeded in bringing many 

 bustards to bag during the day. And after a long summer- 

 day shut up in this rude contrivance, creaking and jolting 

 across stubble and fallow, a deep cool draught of gazpacho 

 at the farm is indeed delicious to parched throats and 

 tongues. 



Another system by which the Great Bustard can be 

 brought to bag is by driving, and right royal sport it , 

 affords at certain seasons. The most favourable period is 

 the early spring — especially the month of March. The 

 male birds are then in their most perfect plumage and con- 

 dition, with the gorgeous chestnut ruff fully developed, and 

 in the early mornings they present an imposing spectacle, 

 as with lowered neck, trailing wings, and expanded tail, 

 they strut round and round in stately circles — " ecliando 

 la rueda " — before an admiring harem, somewhat after 

 the fashion of the blackcock ; though whether the bustard 

 is polygamous is a question we discuss in another chapter. 

 At this season (March) the corn is sufficiently grown to 

 afford covert for the gunners, but not to conceal these 

 great birds when feeding, i.e., about girth-deep. 



The system of the ojeo or bustard-drive' is as follows : 



