260 Unexplored Spain 
pride of sexual estate ierce Whiskers and gorgeous 
chestnut rufts all distended with the seasonal condition. Court- 
ship begins in March, when the weird eccentric performances of 
the males, flashing alternately white and rich orange against their 
green environment, lend a characteristic touch to the vernal 
vegas—white specks that appear and disappear as the lovelorn 
monsters revolve and display, somewhat in the frenzied style of 
the blackcock on our own northern moorlands. Hechando la 
rueda the Spanish call it, as an old barbon majestically struts 
around turning himself, as it were, inside out before an assembled 
harem that, to all appearance, takes no manner of interest in his 
fantastic performance— 
perhaps the gentler sex 
dissemble their depth of 
feeling? Then occur 
ferocious duels between 
rival paladins. Long 
sustained are these and 
couspicuous afar, albeit 
not very deadly. No life- 
blood may flow, but 
feathers fly ere the point 
of honour is settled and 
“HWECHANDO LA RUEDA” the victor left in proud 
possession. 
These combats occur chiefly at break of day while tall herbage 
yet remains soaked by nocturnal dews, and it occasionally 
happens that some luckless champion, damaged and bedraggled, 
and with plumage saturated through and through, when thus 
encountered, is found unable to fly and so captured. Several 
such instances came under our notice years ago and—rare 
though they may be Wild Spain to conclude 
that the incapacity arose from a spring-moult—similar to that of 
wild-geese and of some ducks. That, however, was an error. 
The loss of flight-power arises, as stated, from the damaged and 
dew-saturated state of the primaries, as is concisely set forth in a 
letter from our friend D. José Pan Elberto as follows :— 
= NN AWAY 
Many persons undoubtedly believe (owing to bustards being captured 
in spring unable to fly) that these birds moult all their quills at once. 
That is not the case; but since in spring, when the male-bustards engage 
