66 SHOOTING IN CHINA 



strictest attention to business on the part 

 of the shooter. In what is called the 

 "pairing" season the cocks are very pug- 

 nacious, and so intent at times are they 

 upon their battle that even in the open they 

 may be approached with comparative ease. 

 When the "spring" love is over the male 

 is nothing loth to enjoy the alluring 

 amenities of the inviting farmyard. There 

 is no golden rule in pheasant shooting, but 

 he who would hope to be more successful 

 than his neighbours should have some 

 knowledge of woodcraft which is the main 

 secret in shooting, be in something like 

 fettle, keep an equal temper, taking alike 

 the bitter and the sweet, and above all 

 things hold the iron straight. The China 

 pheasant is by no means a difficult bird to 

 shoot, though it is often an uncommonly 

 difficult bird to recover ; for, once on the 

 ground, it soon gives ocular demonstration 

 of the possession of such powers as the 

 speed of the greyhound, the doubling of 

 the hare and the artfulness of the fox, 

 while if hard pressed it will take to the 

 water and swim, nay even dive, like a duck. 

 As for dogs, time was when reason suggest- 

 ed, for a variety of causes, that pointers 



