146 SHOOTING AT THE LEK. 



continues to " lacka," the male presently comes eitlier 

 flying or running within gunshot of him. Occasionally 

 the bird halts, erects its expanded tail in the manner of a 

 fan, trails its wings on the ground, throws its neck 

 backwards, and cries kavan, kavau ! Sometimes the 

 female is in his company." 



Asain : " When now the fowler hears a male Dal- 

 Ripa ' laugh ' during the pairing season in the spring," 

 says the missionary Lsestadius, " and imitates the call- 

 note of the female, the male comes and settles near the 

 man, shows himself indescril)ably ardent, gives another 

 laugh, and appears to listen, but instead of a rendezvous 

 with the object of his affections, he meets his doom." 



Once more : " During the pairing season," writes M. 

 Gronlund, " it is not difficult to kill the Dal-Ripa. If 

 one then hears the cackling or laughing cry of the male, 

 it is only necessary to hide oneself behind a stone or 

 tree, and mimic the call-note of the female, when he 

 soon approaches, either running or flying. But it is not 

 always that he responds ; when one may be sure he has 

 the female in his company, in which case he will on no 

 account allow himself to be beguiled." 



The Fjiill-Ripa is shot at the Lek-stiille in a somewhat 

 similar manner as the Dal-E,ipa. " The fowler after con- 

 cealing himself imitates the call-note of the female ; on 

 hearing which the male flies directly towards the spot 

 where he imagines her to be, and at times, it is said, 

 actually alights on the man's shoulder." 



The Ripa (of both species, I speak) is also shot to the 

 pointer, or other dog, though the number thus killed is, 

 I take it, very inconsiderable ; partly because the peasants 

 are cautious of wasting ammunition on so valueless a 

 bird in their eyes, and partly because the gentry of the 

 country seldom take the trouble of going so far as the 

 fjiills in search of sport. 



