cee: Unexplored Spain 
PARTRIDGE-SHOOTING 
Passing from the use of the reclamo, of which we have no 
personal experience, we turn to the system practised in the Coto 
Dofiana. Here we always have the marisma bordering, as an 
inland sea, our northern frontage. Upon that fact the system 
known as “ averando” is based. 
A line of six or eight guns, with sufficient beaters between, 
and mounted keepers on either flank (the whole extending over, 
say, half-a-mile of front), is formed up at a distance of a mile or two 
inland from the marisma. On advancing, with the wings thrown 
forward, and mounted men skirmishing ahead, a space comprising 
hundreds of acres of scrub is thus enclosed. The partridge, running 
forward among the cistus or rising far beyond gunshot, are 
gradually pushed down towards the water; then, as the advancing 
line approaches the marisma, with the belts of rush and sedge that 
border it, the work begins. The game, unwilling to face the 
water, perforce come swinging back over the shooting - line. 
Naturally on seeing encompassing danger in full view behind 
and barring their retreat, the partridge spin up heavenwards— 
higher and yet higher, till they finally pass over the guns at a 
height and speed and with a pronounced curve that ensures the 
maximum of difficulty in every shot offered. 
In this final stage of the operation grow cork-oaks whose 
bulk and evergreen foliage add further complexity for the gunner. 
It illustrates the exertions made by the partridges to attain 
an altitude and a speed sufficient to carry them safely over the 
clearly-seen danger below, that should a bird which has succeeded 
in thus running the gauntlet happen to be found after the beat 
is over, it will often be too exhausted to rise again. Such tired 
birds are often caught by the dogs. 
As many as six or eight averos, as they are termed, 
may be carried out during a winter's day. The walking in 
places is apt to be rough, through jungle and bush—chiefly cistus 
and rosemary, but intermixed with tree-heaths, brooms, and 
gorse—intercepted with stretches of water which must be waded 
without wincing, for it is essential that each man (gun or 
beater) maintains correctly his allotted position in the advance. 
Naturally in a sandy waste, devoid of corn or tillage of any 
kind, partridge cannot be numerous. They are, moreover, subject 
