. Wild Spain ... records of sport with rifle, rod, and gun, natural history and exploration . d in statel^y circles— echandola rucda —before an admiring harem, somewhat afterthe fashion of the blackcock; though whether the bustardis polygamous is a question we discuss in another this season (March) the corn is sufticiently grown toafford covert for the gunners, but not to conceal thesegreat birds when feeding, , a,bout girth-deep. The system of the ojeo or bustard-drive is as follows :— THE GREAT BUSTARD. 39 The scene of operations must be reached as soon after day-break as poss
. Wild Spain ... records of sport with rifle, rod, and gun, natural history and exploration . d in statel^y circles— echandola rucda —before an admiring harem, somewhat afterthe fashion of the blackcock; though whether the bustardis polygamous is a question we discuss in another this season (March) the corn is sufticiently grown toafford covert for the gunners, but not to conceal thesegreat birds when feeding, , a,bout girth-deep. The system of the ojeo or bustard-drive is as follows :— THE GREAT BUSTARD. 39 The scene of operations must be reached as soon after day-break as possible,which necessitates an early start and a longmatutinal ride; for bustards feed morning and evening,and during the midday hours lie down for a siesta amongthe corn or rough herbage, when it is mere chance workfinding them on so vast an area. Hence an early start isnecessary-. When likely corn-lands are reached, one manadvances to reconnoitre: having descried a band ofbustards and taken a comprehensive view of the surround-ing countrv, he must at once decide on his line of GREAT BUSTARD— ECHANDO LA RUEDA. The bustards are perhaps a mile away: the leader musttherefore have a good eye for a country —much, infact, depends on his rapid intuition of the lie of the landand local circumstances, his knowledge of the habits andflights of the birds, and his ability to utilize the sinaVlestnatural advantages of ground or cover—small indeedthese are sure to be, invisible to untrained eye. The firstgreat object is to bring the guns, unseen, as near the gameas possible. If any miscalculation occurs, and theadvancing sportsmen expose themselves for a moment, 40 WILD SPAIN. then, very literally, the game is up and the pack escapesunharmed. When the birds are found settled on a hillside,it is sometimes not difficult to place the guns on thereverse slope, and so near the summit that the sportsman,stretched full length on the earth, has the birds withinshot almost before th
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