134 A NATURALIST IN WESTERN CHINA 



It is, however, everywhere rare as far as my knowledge 

 goes. 



When in good condition this bird weighs 8 to lo ounces, 

 and is most dehcious eating. It is the largest of the Snipes, 

 measuring 12 to 13 inches. In the upper parts the plumage 

 is uniformly dark brown ; under-parts, lighter brown, with 

 the feathers narrowly edged with white ; tail of 16 to 24 

 feathers, the central feathers are normal, and are flanked by 

 4 to 6 narrow, stiff feathers on either side. 



Latham's Snipe {G. australis) and the Jack Snipe 

 [Limnocryptes gallinula) have been reported from eastern 

 China, but I have never met with either in central and Western 

 China. 



QUAIL 



This dainty little bird [Coturnix japonica) is found scattered 

 all over central and Western China from river-level up to 

 7000 feet altitude, but is nowhere really common in these 

 regions. Throughout eastern China it is abundant. Prob- 

 ably those found in the central and western regions breed 

 there, whereas in the eastern parts of China they are largely 

 migrants. These birds frequent dry grassy places, and are 

 partial to the edges of maize and bean fields amongst the grass 

 and weeds ; they are also commonly to be found amongst 

 the dry stubble in rice fields before they are flooded and 

 ploughed. They fly low and straight, and afford pretty and 

 easy shooting when the crops are all cut. But when the 

 maize is standing, the sport is very dangerous. Quail make 

 straight for the standing crop, and as often as not Chinese 

 will be found working hidden or half-hidden amongst the 

 culms. 



The densely populated nature of all the agricultural parts 

 of China detracts considerably from the pleasure of shooting 

 thereabouts. The danger of lodging pellets in some unfortunate 

 native is ever present in the mind of the sportsman when 

 after low-flying birds like Quail and Bamboo-partridge. 

 Accidents happen to the most careful of shots, and the sport 

 afforded by these birds in such places is not worth the risk. 

 In parts of eastern China it is said (and there is no reason to 



