340 



WILD SPAIN. 



time when pairing presumably occurs, it is extremely rare 

 to see a single male associated with a circle of females — as 

 is the case with black game. Each band is composed of 

 mixed sexes, females preponderating. We have often seen 

 two males along with five or six females, but never one 

 alone ; another band consists of three males and seven 

 females ; a third of five and thirteen ; a fourth of ten and 

 thirty, males and females respectively ; but none, as just 

 stated, are formed of a pair, or of a single male with 

 his harem, as one would expect if the species were poly- 

 gamous in the ordinary sense. 



After incubation has commenced the males remain in 

 separate packs during summer, and take no share in 

 domestic duties. 



Turning now to the Bustards of the marisma, we must 

 first explain that there are no bustards in the marisma 

 proper — that is the home of the Flamingo. But here, for 

 the sake of convenience, we include the whole of the 

 plains, some pasturage, some arable, which, together with 

 the marisma proper, form the delta of the Guadalquivir ; 

 and especially those parts known as the Isla Mayor and 



