THE GAME-BIRDS OF- THE ASTURIAS. 187 



In the same pool we killed two more — a half-pounder, 

 with a smaller fish on the same cast ; while the three lower 

 pools yielded nine trout, three averaging a pound apiece, 

 two of three-quarters, and four of minor dimensions — 

 making a total for the day of forty-four trout. 



This last short hour's work had realized some ten 

 pounds' weight of fish — the best sport with the trout-rod 

 the writer ever enjoyed in Spain. 



The Game-birds op the Asturias. — It may be appro- 

 priate, before leaving this northern province, to add a few 

 lines on its game-birds, which differ greatly from those of 

 the south of Spain. 



First comes the Capercaillie, which is spread along the 

 whole Cantabrian range, though in no great numbers, 

 and rarely seen in spring, when they lie extremely close in 

 the densest thickets of the forests. We only raised three 

 or four during many long rambles through the Asturian 

 forests in search of Bruin. The Asturian name is "el 

 Faisan." 



Ptarmigan are found in the Pyrenees, but do not seem to 

 extend further west than the province of Navarre. Manuel 

 de la Torre assured us that there was, in the Asturias, a 

 Perdiz grisa which lived exclusively in the woods, a tame 

 bird, lying very close, and in autumn flying in bands. 

 Could this be the Hazel-grouse ? According to Arevalo, 

 that species is only found in the Pyrenees. 



Our familiar Grey Partridge (a bird entirely unknown in 

 the south) we also met with both in the Pyrenees and the 

 Asturias, where it is not uncommon ; but is said not to 

 pass southward of the great cordillera of Leon. In this 

 country, the Grey Partridge is confined to the higher 

 regions of the sierras, only coming down with the snow to 

 the faldas, or foothills, in winter, and is never found on the 

 plains as at home. 



One other bird peculiar to this region, though not game, 

 deserves a remark : the Great Black Woodpecker (Picus 

 martins), which is found distributed along all the northern 

 forests. It is, however, very scarce — though least so in the 

 Penas de Europa. 



