A DAY AFTER SMALL GAME. 131 



in India as " tats." An hour's ride between thick clumps 

 of tall feathery-foliaged bamboos like gigantic ostrich- 

 plumes that sometimes flanked the road, or through um- 

 brageous groves of grand old mango-trees, brought us to our 

 ground, where a small crowd of beaters, gun-carriers, dogs, 

 &c., had already preceded us. Our line being formed, we 

 forthwith commenced business by beating up a few grassy 

 fields and scattered patches of bushes, from which a hare, 

 one or two grey partridges, and a few stray quails were 

 transferred to the game-bag. I call them stray quails, be- 

 cause the common grey quail, being a migratory bird, is not 

 found in any numbers except during a few weeks in the 

 spring and autumn, although varieties called the rain-quail 

 and bush-quail are met with at other times, the former only 

 during the rainy season, the latter at any time, in bush 

 jungle. 



After quitting the fields, we beat through a sedgy swamp, 

 where some long-bills, including several little jack-snipe, are 

 picked up, whilst others twist away unscathed by our erratic 

 shots. Our quota of snipe is added to by one or two of the 

 painted variety, which rise from the longer reedy grass more 

 like a big butterfly than a game-bird. On nearing a bushy 

 corner of the "jheel" (marsh), the welcome cry, "Mark 

 woodcock," comes from JEsculapius on the right of the line ; 

 and we have the satisfaction of seeing this much-prized bird 

 alight in a thicket some distance ahead, where it is again 

 flushed and falls to the gun of the " G. T." 



Our beat now leads through long grass, beside a clear 

 pebbly stream called the Sooswa, that derives its name from 

 its abounding with water- cresses, broad luxuriant patches of 

 which might be seen extending along its bed, sometimes for 

 fifty yards or more in length. We have not proceeded far 

 when " whir-r whir-r " go a brace of black partridge (fran- 

 colin) as they rise high over the grass and make away with 

 the dashing straightforward flight which is their wont. 

 " Bang, bang " on the right goes our medical adviser, before 



