THE GAME BIRI)!S OF I^DIA. 533 



•• fourth t<ide just risin<4- gently for a few j'aids, aud then 



" dipping down again into a valley far below. The centre and 



•' fourth side of the hollow were practically free of all cover 



"except a few scattered bushes and Jowala informed us that 



" auv birds which mjoht be within working" distance would 



*• certainly fly straight down to the hollow and then out by the 



" open fourth side into the valley below. There was no special 



'' choice of stands, so A. took up one side of the gap and I the 



••other, both making \\se of a thick bush to screen us from the 



" hillside. Putting in the dogs we worked one of the small 



" peaks without any result, though a Barking-Deer was put 



'' up which tied uphill, barking loudly as he went. Calling 



" the dogs back, we then sent them into the cover on the 



" second peak, aud in this soon had some Pheasants put up, 



•' but these birds evidently thought it too hot to face the open, 



" and merely flew into the nearest trees so that it was not 



" until Jowala, guided by the yapping of the spaniels, came 



" to their assistance, that the birds left. First came an old 



" cock with wings almost closed as he got way on and came 



" down towards us at express speed, so fast was he that A. 



" was behind him with his first barrel, and only winged him 



•' with his second. Down he came, with a thud on the ground 



" and feathers flying in all directions, but as soon as he 



" touched the ground he was tip and off like greased lightning 



" into the nearest cover. We had no time, however, for the 



" moment to spare retrieving him, for A.'s shots had started 



"the rest of the covey, and down they came too. On starting 



" they beat their wings with great rapidity, continuing to 



" rise in the air, but as soon as they had got to what thej con- 



'• sidered the right height and had got fairly going, they half 



" spread their wings out and swept down upon us at a pace 



"that deceived me, although I had just seen A. miss. The 



"consequence was I was behind with both barrels, and had 



" the mortification of seeing five birds sail over the edge into 



" the valley below with never a feather rumpled. 



" The third peak yet remained to be worked, and from this 

 " the dogs turned out three birds, who took to trees I'list as the 

 "last lot had done, and, like them, when turned out by 

 " Jowala came straight down for the opening into the valley 

 "below. 



" Determined to give them enough law this time, I pitched 

 " forward a good three yards ahead of the leading bird, and had 

 "the pleasure of seeing him turn turtle in the air, and before 

 " he touched Mother Karth had his wife falling with liim. 

 "A. also managed to get another bird, and we then sent 

 ' the dogs after the runner, which they failed to recover. 



