24.4 Unexplored Spain 
of Otis tarda. Once on the wing the whole band is off with wide 
swinging flight to the highest ground in the neighbourhood. 
The chase of the great bustard presents characteristics and 
attractions peculiar to itself and differing from that of all other 
winged game. Rather it resembles the scientific pursuit of big 
game; for this is a sport in which the actual shot becomes 
of secondary importance, merely a culminating incident—the 
consummation of previous forethought, fieldcraft, and general- 
ship. Success in bustard-shooting—alike with success in stalking 
—is usually attributable to the leader, who has planned the 
operation and directed the strategy, rather than to the man who 
may have actually killed the game. We here refer exclusively to 
what we may be permitted to call the scientific aspect of this 
chase, as practised by ourselves and as distinguished from other 
(and far more deadly) methods in vogue among the Spanish 
herdsmen and peasantry. Before describing the former system, 
let us glance at native methods of securing the great bustard. 
During the greater part of the year bustard are far too wary 
to be obtained by the farm-hands and shepherds who see them 
every day—so accustomed are the peasantry to the sight of these 
noble birds that little or no notice is taken of them and their 
pursuit regarded as impracticable. There is, however, one period of 
the year when the great bustard falls an easy prey to the clumsiest 
of gunners. 
During the long Andalucian summer a torrid sun has drunk up 
every brook and stream that crosses the cultivated lands; the 
chinky, cracked mud, which in winter formed the bed of shallow 
lakes and lagoons, now yields no drop of 
moisture for bird or beast. The larger rivers 
still carry their waters from sierra to sea, 
but an adaptive genius is required to utilise 
these for purposes of irrigation. All water 
required for the cattle is drawn up from 
wells; the old-world lever with its bucket 
at one end and counterpoise at the other 
has to provide for the needs of all. These 
wells are distributed all over the plains. As the herdsmen put 
the primitive contrivance into operation and swing up bucketful 
after bucketful of cool water, the cattle crowd around, impatient 
to receive it as it rushes down the stone troughing. The thirsty 
