44 Unexplored Spain 
superfluous, even where not actually mischievous. For practical 
purposes there exists but one European species, though it has, 
even within Spain, its local varieties; while, further afield, 
geographical and climatic divergencies naturally tend to increase.' 
We cannot claim for our lowland deer of Donana a high 
standard of comparative quality ; they are, in fact, the smallest 
race in Spain, almost puny as compared with her mountain breed 
—smaller also than the Barbary stag. Clean weights here rarely 
exceed 200 Ibs., while a 30-in. head must be accounted beyond 
the average. The general type, both of horn and hody, is illus- 
trated by various photos and drawings in this book. 
Deer-shooting in Spain takes 
place in the winter. The rutting 
season commences at the end cf 
August, terminating early in Octo- 
ber, and stags have recovered con- 
dition by the end of November. 
The habits of red deer being, here 
as elsewhere, strictly nocturnal, and 
the country densely clad with bush, 
it follows that these animals are 
seldom seen amove during daylight. 
Hence deer-stalking, properly so 
called, is not available, nor is ,the 
method much esteemed in Spain. In Scotland one may detect 
deer, though it be’ but a tip of an antler, when couched in the 
tallest heather or fern. Here, where heather grows six or eight 
feet in height with a bewildering jumble of other shrubbery of 
like proportions, no such view is possible. Hence “ driving” is 
in Spain the usual method of deer-shooting, whether in mountain 
or lowland. 
ABNORMAL CAST ANTLER 
(Picked up in Dofana.) 
There is, nevertheless, one opportunity of stalking which 
(though not regarded with favour) has yet afforded us delightful 
mornings, and to which a few lines of description are due. The 
plan is based upon cutting-out the deer as they return from their 
' No otfence to our scientific friends aforesaid. We recognise their argument and respect 
its thoroughness, though regarding it as occasionally misdirected. Possibly in their splendid 
zeal they overlook the danger of reducing scientific classification to a mere monopoly 
confined to a few score of professors, specialists, and cabinet-naturalists, instead of serving as 
an aid and general guide (as is surely its true intention) to thousands of less learned 
students. Over-elaboration is apt to beget chaos. 
