WILDFOWL IN CHINA. 321 



are there at times something almost phenomenal. The 

 Chen-Pirn lake, an immense sheet of water above 

 Hankow, near the river Yang-tau-Kiang, is one of 

 these places which according to Mr. T. T. Cooper is 

 frequented by myriads of waterfowl of the duck tribe, 

 also great numbers of wild geese. "The noises of the 

 flocks of geese are heard, when rising off the water, 

 three miles off, so wonderfully numerous are they. 

 The Chinese never attempt to interfere with them." 

 Mr. Cooper goes on to say that on one occasion he fired 

 a rifle at them "when up rose a perfect cloud of birds, 

 and the noise of their wings was deafening," and he 

 adds that they " were disturbed all night by the noise 

 of the flocks returning/ * 



All these things go to show that the mere presence 

 of a very dense population of human beings is by no 

 means inconsistent with splendid wildfowl shooting. 

 We use the word " wildfowl " here in its largest sense. 

 On the contrary, it seems more than probable that the 

 existence of extensive corn fields, and a highly culti- 

 vated country, is a positive attraction to these watch- 

 ful birds, whose quick senses readily enable them to 

 elude the approach of danger : and so long as they can 

 find a secure haven of refuge among grass, stubble and 

 other cover, or upon the surface of broad waters, they 

 can always manage to feed in comparative security, 

 either among standing crops by day, or under the cover 

 of the darkness of night, even close to the dwellings of 

 man. Under such circumstances wildfowl will continue 

 to maintain themselves in such localities, year after year, 

 in undiminished numbers. We think that we can say 



* The Pioneer of Commerce, or an Overland Joiirney from China 

 towards India, by T. T. Cooper, 1871, Vol. i. 



VOL. III. 21 



