[65] Nowhere can these spectacles be witnessed with greater ease, or to better advantage, than on the Lower Guadalquivir, where, from the deck of our vessel, we have counted as many as forty or fifty barbones within easy reach of a field-glass. It is, however, only in the first hours of daylight that they are thoroughly "on view."
[66] Col. Irby gives this love-note as "prut, prut." Mr. Howard Saunders describes the rising and falling movement as more of a jump, which may very likely be a more correct definition; or, perhaps, both actions are executed. At the distance at which observations are possible, it is difficult to be quite certain what one sees.
[67] It may be appropriate here to add that the curious chamæleon, which is found nowhere else in Europe, is abundant in this district. It is not, however, seen in mid-winter. Another remarkable reptile is the lobe-footed gecko (Platydactylus muralis), which swarms about rocks and old walls. Both the reptiles and insects of Spain would probably richly repay further research.
[68] Since the above was written we have acquired the sporting rights over parts of these great marshes, and have engaged the worthy wildfowlers, Vasquez and Vergara, as keepers. Many pleasant days have we spent with them and their ponies. But of this sport a fuller account will be found in another chapter.
[69] That is, with two men behind the pony. We have since then, going single-handed, occasionally succeeded in outwitting even the Grey Lag.
[70] Garganeys are said to be the swiftest of all the duck-tribe, and to lead the migrating flights, both on their southern journey and also when steering north. Hence their name: "capitanes."
[71] In the previous year (1888) the opening bag was 37 geese, 373 ducks, and 46 various.
[72] The best day, walking for snipe, December 4, 1889, produced 232 snipe—six guns.
[73] This failure of the gunning-punt in Spain is the more inexplicable as in Egypt—the only other southern land in which, to our knowledge, this sport has been attempted—the very reverse was the case. An Englishman who took out a punt to the Nile abandoned the pursuit, as he found no difficulty in taking the craft to such close quarters that he bagged fifty to sixty each shot. Similarly, Lord Londesborough found the fowl in the Egyptian lagoons so easily accessible that, after securing 2,290 geese and 1,800 ducks in the season (sixty-four geese being his biggest shot), he abandoned further operations as lacking the one essential condition—that of difficulty. (Badminton Library.—"Shooting: Moor and Marsh," pp. 261-2.)
[74] Our biggest shot with the cabresto-ponies realized 74 ducks and teal; guns, a single 4-and a double 8-bore.