Wild Spain Part 32

Cranes are common enough throughout all the open _vegas_ and corn-growing plains of Andalucia from early autumn till spring: few days but one sees them either pa.s.sing high overhead in loudly-gaggling skeins, or feeding in troops on the newly-sown beans or wheat. In the latter case, cranes are not infrequently mistaken for bustard, but rarely permit the cordon of mounted men to be drawn around their position; for, though rarely sought after, the crane is imbued with even wilder spirit than the much-prized bustard. For many years, the few _Grullas_ we succeeded in killing were merely chance-shots at bands pa.s.sing over, when we had happened to be concealed by tall sedges or bulrush; and even these only by virtue of mould-shot at very great heights.

During a recent winter, however, we discovered a means of shooting these wary fowl. It is the habit of a crane to a.s.semble at some remote marsh for the purpose of roosting. By day, it should be specially remarked, the crane is _not_ a marsh-haunting bird, but is only seen on _dry_ ground, feeding entirely on grain, acorns, and the like; but invariably retiring to the marshes, or wettest spot on the prairie, to roost.

Towards the sequestered swamp selected for their _dormidero_, during the last hour of daylight, files of cranes may be seen winging their stately course. As darkness gathers round, the a.s.sembling host presents an animated scene, while the music of their magnificent trumpet-note resounds for miles around.

Such a spectacle we witnessed one March evening when on a bustard-shooting expedition; and returning a week later, had, at length, the wary cranes at our mercy. Ensconced in "blinds" of rudely-woven carices near the centre of a dreary swamp, we soon had these majestic birds filing close overhead, or flapping past at pistol-range. Not less than 500 cranes must have appeared, "flighting" from every point of the compa.s.s, and the sight, with the sound of their clarion-notes, formed, for half an hour, as impressive a spectacle of bird-life as we have witnessed.

There is intense gratification in out-generalling any animal that has long defied one's efforts; but it is rather a sense of supremacy than mere slaughter that is sought. After shooting seven specimens of the "flighting" _Grullas_, we were content, and have never since molested them. This marsh, which, being "ten miles from anywhere," is an awkward place for evening flight-shooting, continued to be their nightly resort till well on into April, after which date the crane disappears from Southern Spain; though (as elsewhere recorded) a small and decreasing colony continues to breed in the neighbourhood of the Lagunas de Janda.

THE DEMOISELLE CRANE.

(_Grus virgo._)

We have seen several examples of this beautiful species shot in the marismas and corn-plains of Andalucia during the spring-months. It is just possible that a few pairs may still breed somewhere in that wide region, though no ornithologist has yet succeeded in establis.h.i.+ng the fact.

[Ill.u.s.tration: STORK'S NEST--THE BANDERAS, SEVILLE.]

WHITE STORK.

Spanish, _Ciguena_.

Though not a sporting bird in any sense, and in some respects almost _sacred_, the stork attracts the sportsman's attention by its size, boldly-marked plumage, and majestic appearance on the wing. Nesting chiefly in the towns, on churches and other buildings, as well as on the peasants' cots and on trees in the country, storks are dispersed in hundreds during winter over the marshy plains, though many also migrate to Africa at that season. Their food consists of frogs, as well as lizards and various small reptiles and insects; in May we have watched them snapping up locusts by dozens.

BLACK STORK.

Spanish, _Ciguena negra_.

The only birds of this species we have killed are a pair, shot right and left, near Jerez, in March, many years ago. We have reason to believe that the black stork breeds on the Upper Guadiana, and in Castile have observed it in May.

On May 16th, 1891, we watched a pair which evidently had a nest in the crags overhanging the Rio Alberche, New Castile, but had not time to discover its exact position. Manuel de la Torre states that it breeds yearly in the Montes de Toledo.

BITTERN.

Spanish, _Ave-toro, garza-mochuelo_.

Twenty winters ago, in the marshes below Ovar, in Portugal, my dog _Nilo_ came to a "point" near a clump of thick sedges. Two yards before his nose I espied a strange apparition--a mere point erect amidst the rank herbage, hardly thicker than and much resembling a sere and yellow flag: there was no visible semblance of head or form--only a sharp beak, and an eye which seemed to be a part thereof; the whole slim object pointing vertically heavenward. Next moment the insignificant point developed into a huge brown bird--more and more expanses of brown feathers emerged from the sedge till a pair of heavy green hanging legs wound up the procession. When both barrels were emptied, I had time to perceive that a bittern was slowly flapping away.

Those were bitter moments: but since then we have killed many a bittern while snipe-shooting, and could have killed many more had there been any object; for they lie very close, and offer a mark like a haystack.

According to the Spanish peasants, the flesh of the bittern is health-giving (_muy saludable_): and the same worthies also state that the strange boom is produced with the beak half-immersed in water.

RAILS, CRAKES, ETC.

The landrail, reversing its home habits, is only found in Spain in autumn and winter, its well-known spring-note being never heard in this southern land. The common water-rail, the spotted crake and Baillon's crake are all three abundant in winter in the marshes--more so than in spring: and we have also shot the small (unspotted) crake--on one occasion, one of these intensely-skulking birds was induced to take wing by a dead snipe falling right on to his strangely compressed little body.

Water-hens are as common as at home; and at rare intervals the great purple water-hen is sprung by the spaniels from some sedgy mora.s.s. This fine bird, like the crakes, is very difficult to flush; but on occasion, when burning the cane-brakes to drive out deer, wild cats, &c., we have seen two or three in a day.

Coots (two species) in certain localities afford fine sport, by "driving" with a number of boats: we have bagged thus over 100 in a day, besides other wildfowl; and grebes, also of two species, besides the little dabchick, are also abundant.

GEESE AND DUCKS.

It is unnecessary to add more than a mere list of the various _Anatidae_ to be met with in winter in Southern Spain.

Grey geese arrive in thousands in November to remain till February. Our best bags (flight-shooting) are: in one day, 81; in four days, 247. This was in November, 1889. The great majority of these are greylags, the remainder being of the "bean" description. We have shot no other species, though others occur. The Spanish name for all geese is _anseres_ or _gansos_.

Mallard (_pato real_).--Common at all seasons.

Pintail (_rabudo_).--Abundant in _wet_ winters; in dry seasons they pa.s.s on into Africa.

Shoveler (_paleton_).--Abundant every winter.

Gadwall (_friso_, or _silbon real_).--Rather scarce in winter; a few breed in Andalucia.

Wigeon (_silbon_).--In millions, October till March.

Garganey (_capitanes_, or _caretones_).--Irregular; some years many are shot in November, and again in March.

Teal (_zarceta_).--Come in clouds in October.

Marbled Duck (_pardilla_, or _ruhilla_).--A summer duck, rarely seen after the end of November. Returns in March, and breeds in hundreds.

Pochard (_cabezon_).--Only _locally_ common, in winter.

Tufted Duck.--Have shot these occasionally on the rivers in winter, and up to April.

White-eyed Pochard (_negrete_).--Chiefly a summer duck, but common in November and early December, and again in February.

White-faced Duck (_porron_).--Another summer duck, not seen in mid-winter.

Scoter (_pato negro_).--In big flights on the coast in winter: shot a drake on Guadalquivir, April 8th.

Merganser.--Once or twice shot in winter--the only member of the _merginae_ we have met with.

Sheld-duck (_pato-tarro_, or _ansareta_).--Several shot in winter in marisma. Some remain to breed.

Ruddy Sheld-duck (_labanco, pato canelo_).--A few shot in winter and early spring: breeds in _barrancos_ or low cliffs in the Isla Menor, &c.

NOTE.--The ducks of the Spanish marismas are extremely irregular as to the species which appear: these varying with the seasons and state of the water. Thus, one winter, pintails will swarm; another, gadwalls and garganeys are conspicuous; the next, at corresponding seasons, one or the other will, perhaps, be almost entirely absent.

WILD SWANS.

Spanish, _Cisne_.