112 Unexplored Spain 
shallow marisma. A big bag thereim, nevertheless, will always 
include a few couples of this species. 
Shoveler are so numerous that we have known over eighty 
bagged by one gun in a day. 
Garganey chiefly occur in early autumn and again de vuelta 
paso in March. They winter in Africa. 
Marbled duck breed here, and in September large bags may 
be made; but in mid-winter (when they have retired to Africa) 
it is rare to secure more than half-a-dozen or so in a day. They 
are very bad eating. 
Shelduck only occur in dry seasons. They fall easy victims 
to any sort of “decoy” provided it is whzte. A local fowler told 
us he had killed many by substituting (in default of natural 
decoys) the dry bones and skulls of cattle! Ruddy shelduck do 
not frequent the marisma, preferring the sweeter waters and 
shallows adjoining Dofana. 
Diving-ducks avoid the marisma except only in the wettest 
winters. 
An hour before sun-down, as above stated, all bird-movement 
ceases. For a brief space absolute tranquillity reigns over the 
illimitable marisma. The dusky masses that cover the lucios 
seem lulled to sleep and silence. But the interlude is very 
temporary. Hardly has night thrown her mantle across the 
wastes, than all that tremendous, eager, vital energy is re- 
awakened to fresh activities. A striking and a memorable 
experience will be gained by awaiting that exact hour at some 
favourite feeding-ground. Within a few minutes, as darkness 
deepens, the ambient air fairly hisses and surges with the 
pulsation of thousand strong pinions hurtling close by one’s ear, 
and with the splash of heavy bodies flung down by fifties 
and hundreds in the shallows almost within arm’s-length—the 
nearest approximation that occurs to us is a bombardment of 
pompoms. Yet, for all that, night-flighting in the marisma 
(having regard to the quantities concerned) produces but insigni- 
ficant results. The ducks come in so low and so direct—no 
preliminary circling overhead—and at such velocity that this 
flight-shooting may be likened to an attempt to hit cannon-balls 
in the dark. Our expert shots score, say, eight or ten, but what is 
that? The nocturnal disturbance, moreover, may be (and usually 
