134 Unexplored Spain 
movements; then for a full hour or more might follow a spell 
of absolute silence and an empty sky. Almost the whole of 
these successive flights concentrated on No. 2—such is fowler’s 
luck,—so that by dusk I had gathered 105 ducks, 3 geese, 
3 flamingoes, and 4 godwits; total, 115. The next oun 
(J. C. C.), though only 200 yards away, in No. 3, had but 30 
ducks ; while the others had practically had no shooting all day. 
Bertie, however, two miles away at the Desierto, added 65 
—bringing the day’s total to 268 ducks, 8 geese, etc. Three 
guns left to-night. 
Next day at the 
Cafializa, Bertie and 
I had 70 ducks by 
noon, when (by 
reason of intense 
sun-glare at the 
point) I shifted back to my yesterday's post—two hours’ tramp 
through sticky mud and water, with a load of cartridges, ducks, 
etc. Thereat in one bour (4 to 5 p.m.) I secured 56 ducks, 
bringing my total for the two days—a record in my humble 
way, but surpassed threefold, as will be seen on following pages 
—to over 200 head, and for the party, to precisely 500 (491 
ducks and 9 geese), besides flamingoes, ruffs, grey-plover, ete. 
GODWITS 
A curious incident occurred on February 11 (1907). But 
few ducks—and they all teal—had “ flighted” early, and a strong 
west wind having “blown” the water, my post was left near 
dry. Just as I prepared to move 300 yards eastward, a 
marvellous movement of teal commenced. On the far horizon 
appeared three whirling clouds, each perhaps 100 yards in length 
by 20 in depth, and all three waltzing and wheeling in marshalled 
manceuvres down channel towards me. To right and left in 
rhythmical revolutions swept those masses, doubling again and 
again upon themselves with a precision of movement that passes 
understanding. Each unit of those thousands, actuated by 
simultaneous impulse, changed course while moving at lightning 
speed ; and with that changed course they changed also their 
colour, flashing in an instant from dark to silvery white, while 
the roar of wings resembled an earthquake. 
All three clouds had already passed along the deeper water 
