SPORT IN WESTERN CHINA 129 



Though a quiet-coloured bird, the Bamboo-partridge is 

 really very handsome, and the colours of its plumage harmonize 

 together splendidly. The males are great fighters. The 

 Chinese commonly keep them in cages as pets, and derive much 

 amusement from their pugnacious habits. The common name 

 of these birds is " Chu che " (Bamboo Chicken). 



Between the Ichang Gorge and the Niukan Gorge on the 

 Yangtsze River Bamboo groves are a special feature. In these 

 groves I have several times flushed an odd covey of Bamboo- 

 partridge. This kind is smaller than the one described above, 

 and is either a new species or B. fytchi, a species known to 

 occur in western Yunnan. Unfortunately, our expedition did 

 not secure any specimens, and I have no precise data. 



WOODCOCK 



The common Woodcock [Scolopax rusticula) is found 

 scattered all over Western China. Anywhere and everywhere 

 it may be found, but never in any great quantity. From 

 October to the end of April, Woodcock are " in," and an odd 

 bird is almost sure to be sighted in a walk after Pheasant or 

 Bamboo-partridge. I have met with this bird from river- 

 level (Ichang 120 feet altitude) up to 7000 feet altitude in 

 western Szechuan in a variety of places. A favourite haunt 

 is the side of a ditch, where there is a little cover. In spring. 

 Woodcock are commonly to be found in the beanfields (Broad 

 Bean, Vicia Faha), especially if there are a few trees near by 

 to afford greater shade. Near Ichang in April 1907 I shot 

 five within an hour, in a patch of beans beneath Plum and Pear 

 trees, with houses not 50 yards away. When found in these 

 moist shady beanfields the birds are usually very fat. One of 

 the five birds alluded to above turned the scale at 15 ounces, 

 and was a male at that ! It is commonly supposed that the 

 female is larger than the male, but after measuring and weighing 

 many birds I can find no decided difference. When the feeding 

 is good the sexes attain about equal weight. The largest bird 

 I have shot was a male. 



As all who have given any attention to the matter know, 

 Woodcock are to be found in the same spots year after year. 



VOL. II. — 9 



