The Marismas of Guadalquivir 99 
morning we had selected to commence our operations. Had the 
weather held for a single week but why dwell on it? The 
point must be clear enough. No more geese were got that year. 
Let us conclude with a few ornithological observations made 
during succeeding days. On November 30, after three days of 
stormy weather, with tremendous bursts of rainfall, there com- 
menced one of the most remarkable bird-migrations we have 
witnessed. From early morn till night (and all the following 
day) cloud upon cloud of ducks kept streaming overhead from the 
westward. Frequently a score of packs would be in view at once 
—never were the heavens clear; and all coming from precisely 
the same direction and travelling in parallel lines to the east. 
Their course seemed to indicate that these migrants (avoiding the 
overland route across Spain which would involve passing over her 
great cordilleras, say 10,000 feet) had travelled south by the 
coast-line as far as the latitude of Cape St. Vincent. Thence 
they “hauled their wind” and bore up on an easterly course 
which brought them direct into the great marismas of the 
Guadalquivir.* 
Las NvurEvas 
We had acquired this waste of marsh and mud-flat and were 
keen to “go and possess it.” Initial difficulties arose to con- 
front us. Though the whole region now belonged to us (ze. 
the rights of chase, and it boasts but little other value) yet 
our possession was to be met by some opposition. 
It was all very natural, delightfully human, and despite the 
annoyance, captivated our sympathy. Local fowlers, accustomed 
from immemorial times to earn a scant living by shooting for 
market the wildfowl of the wilderness, resented this acquisition 
of exclusive rights. Our scattered guards were overawed, our 
reed-built huts were burned, and threats reached us—not to 
mention a casual bullet or two ricochetting in wild bounds 
across the watery waste. That one quality, however, above 
mentioned—sympathy—is the passport to Spanish hearts, and 
1 At the date in question (end of November) it is, of course, possible that this immigration 
was proceeding, not from the north, but from the south. Thatis, that these were fowl which, 
on their first arrival in Spain in September and October, had found the marisma untenable 
from lack of water, and had in consequence passed on into Africa, whence they were now 
returning, on the changed weather. But be that as it may, the route above indicated is 
that invariably followed by the north-bred wildfow] on their first arrival in Spain. 
