HUNTING & SHOOTING IN CEYLON 



level, and yet porcupines are exceedingly common in the 

 extreme low country, but, being strictly nocturnal in their 

 habits, are seldom seen. 



I have not exhausted my diary's store of variety of 

 incident, for here is yet another phase of estate hunting : 



I let Magpie and Midget (two imported small English 

 beagles) and Pup (a country-bred terrier with a faint trace 

 of some hunting dog) out for a run this evening, not feeling 

 inclined to turn out myself. After disporting themselves 

 in my verandah and on the grass in front of the bungalow 

 for a while, Magpie sloped off into the tea and presently a 

 whimper made the ears of the remaining two prick up. A 

 joyful tongue, a moment after, galvanised them into instant 

 life, causing a precipitate rush down the verandah steps and 

 bolt down the slight hill into the thick cover of tea on the 

 flat below, joining in full cry with Magpie as soon as they 

 struck scent. I got out my 12-bore Winchester long- 

 barrelled repeating shot-gun for a possible long shot if 

 the hare happened to run near the bungalow, but did not 

 trouble to go out. After a bit of a run amongst the tea, 

 however, there was a check for some time, but presently 

 there ensued such a burst of music as made me leave my 

 book and give attention to it. The run was so prolonged 

 and at such a pace right through the tea, up and down, 

 round and round, without pause or check, that " Jackal!" 

 said I to myself, and grabbing the gun, hatless, in my 

 slippers only, I made a bee-line for the scene of operations. 

 Striking a pathway I hurried along it towards the dogs, 

 and presently meeting another path at right angles to 

 the one I was on, I took my stand there as the dogs were 

 running that way and I knew the habit of the beast they 

 were " chiveying." The tea was too thick and the ground 

 too flat for me to see anything in the cover, but presently 



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