140 Bird Cafrhinfr In India. 



the way in wliifli r.-irtridgcs and Pheasants arc caught in the 

 Daphhi Tlills." /\s it is the habit of these birds to get 

 (h)\vn low at ni.glit into th' warmer ravines, and feei upwards 

 along the crests of the spurs, the bird-catcher stops the 

 progress of the co\ey by a zig-za,L; barrier from two to three 

 feet high, made up of (wigs and short pieces of bamboo 

 stuck into the ground, which is rapidly formed and extended a 

 short distance down the hill on either side. Narrow openings 

 are lef: here and there, generally at the angles, and in each 

 of thcs" a noose is set just above two cross sticks and m the 

 same plane, at the height of the bird's breast. The noose 

 string is made oif a thin strip peeled otif the outside of a bam- 

 boo." He remarks that in a few hours hundreds of these 

 barriers and nooses can be set. 



In the issue of the Indian Field, dated October 28th, 

 1909, a writer describes a method adopted by Kaltnlis for 

 catching Chakor. The shikari envelopes himself in a l)iiriia - 

 the garment worn by parda nasli'n women when they go 

 out walking. The burka in question is a yellou' one heavily 

 spotted with black. On nearing his quarry the disguised 

 Kabali goes along on all fours. The Chakor mistakes him 

 for a leopard, and as they hate that quadruped, the first bird 

 to see him raises a great uproar. This attracts many of its 

 neighbours. These hop and danc- about, screaming at the 

 " leopard " which moves towa"ds the i)Iacc where numbers of 

 nooses have been set. 



Dr. Henderson states that the natives of Varkand cap- 

 ture Chakor in a very sporting manner. 'J'hey disdain snares 

 and cages. Parties of them ga out armed with whips and 

 mounted on ponies, Having sighted a co\ey of Chakor they 

 at once give chase and, as these birds never rise more than 

 twice, they can be overtaken and knocked over with whips. 

 Those acquainted wiih the country will appreciate the sport- 

 ing nature of this mode of capturing the birds. 



But most methods of Indian sli'lairis are anything but 

 sporting! 



In Madras I once came upon a horse-hair noose set 

 beside the nest of a Grey Partridge. The nest contained eggs, 

 and the object of the noose was to snare the mother bird 



