The Great Bustard 245 
animals drink their fill, splashing and wasting as much as they 
consume, so that a puddle is always formed about these bebideros. 
The moisture only extends a few yards, gradually diminishing, 
till the trickling streamlet is lost in the famishing soil. 
These moist places are a fatal trap to the bustard. Before 
dawn one of the farm-people will conceal himself so as to command 
at short range all points of the miniature swamp. A slight hollow 
is dug for the purpose, having clods arranged around, between 
which the gun can be levelled with murderous accuracy. As day 
begins to dawn, the bustard will take a flight in the direction of 
the well, alighting at a point some few hundred yards distant. 
They satisfy themselves that no enemy is about, and then, with 
cautious, stately step, make for their morning draught. One big 
bird steps on ahead of the rest; and as he cautiously draws near, 
he stops now and again to assure himself that all is right and that 
his companions are coming too—these are not in a compact body, 
but following at intervals of a few yards. The leader has reached 
the spot where he drank yesterday ; now he finds he must go a little 
nearer to the well, as the streamlet has been diverted ; another 
bird follows close ; both lower their heads to drink ; the gunner has 
them in line—at twenty paces there is no escape; the trigger is 
pressed, and two magnificent bustards are done to death. Should 
the man be provided with a second barrel (which is not usual), a 
third victim may be added to his morning’s spoils. 
Comparatively large numbers of bustard are destroyed thus 
every summer. It is deadly work and certain. Luckily, however, 
the plan enjoys but a single success, since bands, once shot at, 
never return. 
A second primitive method of capturing the great bustard is 
practised in winter. The increased value of game during the 
colder months induces the bird-catchers, who then supply the 
markets with myriads of ground-larks, linnets, buntings, etc., 
occasionally to direct their skill towards the capture of bustard 
by the same means as prove efficacious with the small fry—that 
is, the cencerro, or cattle-bell, combined with a dark lantern. 
As most cattle carry the cencerro around their necks, the 
sound of the bell at close quarters by night causes no alarm to 
ground-birds. ‘he bird-catcher, with his bright lantern gleaming 
before its reflector and the cattle-bell jingling at his wrist, prowls 
nightly around the stubbles and wastes in search of roosting birds. 
