94 Unexplored Spain 
In such years of drought many of the newly arrived wildfowl, 
especially pintails, pass on southwards (into Africa), not to return 
till February. The remainder crowd into the few places where 
the precious element—water—still exists. Such are the rare pools 
that are fed from quicksands (iwcl¢s) or permanent land-springs 
(ojos) and a few of the larger and deeper Juczos of the marisma. 
Riding through stretches of shrivelled samphire we frequently 
spring deer, driven out here, miles from their forest-haunts, by 
the eager search for water. 
Approaching the first of the great /wevos, or permanent pools, 
WHITE-EYED POCHARD (fuligulu nyroca) 
a wondrous sight lay before our eyes. This water might extend 
for three or four miles, but was literally concealed by the crowds 
of flamingoes that covered its surface. For a moment it was 
dithcult to believe that those pink and white leagues would really 
be all composed of living creatures. Their identity, however, 
became clear enough when, within 600 yards, we could distinguish 
the scattered outposts gradually concentrating upon the solid 
ranks beyond. Disbelieve it if you will, but four fairly sane 
Englishmen estimated that crowd, when a rifle-shot set them on 
wing, to exceed ten thousand units—by how much, we decline to 
ouess. 
The nearer shores, with every creek and channel, were darkened 
