journey, and a diet of tinned food, by appearing within easy and tempting 

 range of the road. From the sides of the loess ravines or the bare shale 

 foothills, the rowdy cackling chukar, or red legged partridge [Caccabis chukar) 

 sends forth its taunting call to the passer by, who, if he be a sportsman, fails 

 not to take up the challenge. Rapidly climbing the steep cliff, he is likely to 

 find himself in the centre of a large covey of birds, which break cover with 

 terriffic whirr and whistling of wings, and rocket away in every direction. 

 The novice frantically swings the muzzle of his gun first in one direction and 

 then in another, and usually ends by making a double miss. 



In the broad valleys out on the plains or again upon the great grassy slopes 

 of the high mountains, the little bearded partridge [Perdix daurica), a bird not 

 unlike the common partridge in size and appearance, but characterised by 

 having a peculiar beard of ochreous feathers, may often be found in large flocks. 

 The migratory quail [Coturnix coturnix) seeks refuge in the stubble of the plains 

 and valleys, whence it is easily ' walked up,' affording a good mark for the 

 quick gun. 



The common pheasant {Phasianus torquatus) abounds wherever there is 

 any cover at all, whilst in the great pine forests of the highest and most 

 inaccessible mountain ranges the handsome eared pheasant {Crossoptilon) 

 wanders in large flocks of from twenty to forty birds. There are two varieties 

 of the latter, one being found in Shansi and the other away out in western 

 Kansu. The Shansi variety {C. manchuricum) , is a large gamy bird, with black 

 breast, head and wings, greyish white back and tail, the long curved feathers 

 of which end in black. There is a white patch on the throat which is con- 

 tinued on either side of the head in the form of ear-like tufts. These give the 

 bird a sinister and bellicose appearance. The Kansu variety {C. aun'fum), 

 commonly known as Pallas' eared pheasant, differs from its Shansi cousin in 

 being almost uniformly of a slate blue colour, there being but little white in 

 the tail, though the white throat and ear tufts are present. In both species the 

 face is naked and scarlet as in the common pheasant, while the legs are of a 

 dull crimson. 



The eared pheasant runs with considerable speed, taking to its wings with 

 great reluctance. Dogs only succeed in treeing this handsome game, whilst it 

 is almost impossible to shoot them in the dense dark woods that they frequent. 

 If, however, a flock can be induced to break cover, the sportsman may 

 enjoy the time of his life, as the large birds after fluttering clear of the trees, 

 spread their wings and sail up and down the valley, crossing and re-crossing 

 each other in their mad endeavour to find safety. They seem to lose their 



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