Sport, in Syria. 347 



sky became almost black from the number of 

 aquatic birds which the popping of my gun had 

 alarmed. At first, hiding under some bushes as the 

 birds flew past, I got many easy shots and bagged 

 five and a half couple, but they soon became shy 

 and kept out of range, still I had as many as I cared 

 for. I then turned my attention to the snipe, which 

 were "snicking" away right and left, but the light 

 was not good and they flew low, so I did not kill as 

 many as I should have done. In half an hour I only 

 gathered eight birds. After this woodcock began to 

 flush. I had lost interest in this game. They were so 

 plentiful, even along the roads, that they would get 

 up in threes and fours out of the cactus hedges, and 

 thus they had lost their attraction. We were sick 

 of eating them, but I thought I'd try how many 

 it was possible to kill in one day. The cover 

 that they had selected was low shrub, wet and 

 inclined to be marshy underneath, and 1 should have 

 lost many birds but for my retriever, who was one of 

 the best dogs I have ever had in my life. I com- 

 menced luckily by killing two at one shot out of five 

 that rose, and a third with the left barrel ; this went 

 on till ten o'clock. I had then forty-seven brace of 

 cock, eighteen snipe, seven teal, twelve ducks, 

 two francolins, three hares and three flamingoes. 

 After this performance I rested to have some break- 

 fast. By the time that my meal was over it was 

 just comfortably warm. I had put my gun down a 

 little way off, and was still munching some sandwiches 

 when I saw a lot of curious-looking birds flying 

 towards me, well within shot, but before I could get my 

 double barrel they had passed. Their flight was with 



