28 BIRD-HUNTING 



curious scene. I ought, of course, to have exposed 

 one plate before proceeding further ; but, thinking 

 that the birds were gorged and unwilling to fly, 

 I foolishly attempted to get a little nearer. Of 

 course they all rose and flew off, the last to depart 

 being a couple of Marsh Harriers, which were 

 engaged in clearing off the smaller morsels and 

 debris. 



We left the automatic camera to look after itself 

 while we went back for dinner, but this only resulted 

 in the photograph of a hungry dog ! 



Soon after this disappointment we determined to 

 visit the range of cliffs in the distance opposite the 

 house, one high crag in particular looking as if it 

 would be worth a visit. 



On reaching the river, which was a fair-sized 

 one, we had some doubts about the whereabouts 

 of the ford, and inquired at a choza, a rude 

 hut of branches, near by. The owner, a typical, 

 sunburnt Andaluz, came out himself, with character- 

 istic politeness, to show us where we could 

 cross. 



These Spanish plains in spring-time, before the 

 fierce sun has scorched and burnt everything up, 

 are ablaze with brightly-coloured flowers. Sometimes 

 we waded knee-deep through acres of pink mallows, 

 at other times thousands of blue irises made the 

 prevailing colour blue. Patches of silvery-grey 



