S^ WiTH BOAT AJTD GUN IN THE YANGTZE VAtLE-Sf. 



adopted is for the gun to walk as unconcernedly towards the flock as possible, and when 

 it begins to show uneasiness to run in 20 or 30 yards, select his bird and fire. To shoot 

 into the " brown " of geese is about as useless as firing into teal on the water. Weight 

 8 to ID lbs. 



The Bean Goose (Anser segetum) is to be found in great numbers in the estuary of the 

 Yangtze and the upper reaches of the river, and wherever there may be broad running fresh 

 water. It is easily identified by its long bill, which is black at the base and tip and 

 orange in the middle, and its orange legs. Weight 7K to 8/^ lbs. 



The Swan Goose {Anser cygnoides) is a very large bird, and would seem to be the 

 stock whence the domestic geese of several different countries have sprung. The ganders 

 of the reclaimed form are distinguished by the knob at the base of the bill, but the evidence 

 of many observers is that this is not found in the wild race (Newton.) The bill is black, 

 and a conspicuous dark stripe runs down the neck. Moreover its neck is very swanlike. 



The Pacific Brent Goose {Anser nigricans) is distinguished by having the bill, head, 

 neck, breast, feet and tail a sooty black : on each side of the neck there is a patch of white 

 with a few black feathers intermixed. It is the smallest of all geese, and is practically the 

 " blackbird " of the anseres. Doubtless it is to be found round the Islands of the China 

 Coast, for it is a seabird entirely, never flying inland. 



Unlike ducks, geese are of almost identical colour in both sexes and according to 

 Sir R. Payne Gallwey " there is no perceptible difference in plumage between the male and 

 female of any wild goose." In the case of duck and teal the females are invariably of so 

 sombre a colour, that in many cases and at certain seasons, it may not be so easy to 

 determine at once the species in doubt. 



Though admittedly inadequate the following description of the duck and teal in 

 China, based upon personal examination of typical male specimens in the Shanghai museum 

 will, it is hoped, suffice to impress upon the mind of the uninitiated some of those more 

 salient features and characteristics by which, with comparative ease and certainty, a species 

 may be determined. And that is all. For who shall attempt with any realism to depict, 

 artist in words though he be, the gorgeous sheen of the cock pheasant's breast, or the 

 iridescence of the beautiful Mandarin Duck, or the enchanting markings of the woodcock ? 



There can be no question that an ability to discriminate between the several species 

 which may be found in the day's bag would greatly enhance the interest in the sport, but 

 unfortunately, in the case of too many shooters the contents of the bag are birds and birds 

 simply, and like the Wordsworthian flower "nothing more." Or as Sir R. Payne Gallwey 

 puts it so tersely and emphatically. "To most shooters a duck is a duck, and a wild goose 

 a wild goose, but the successful fowler will tell you of a dozen species of the former, and 

 half as many of the latter." 



The advantages, therefore, of even a very modest acquaintance with natural history 

 must be obvious in so far as birds and their ways and their more marked features are 

 concerned. Any knowledge of natural history however limited, cannqt fail to lead to a 

 closer observation of our winged beauties generally, naturally to a more intelligent interest 

 in sport, and consequently to enjoyments unrevealed to those whose cup of happiness is 

 only full in proportion to the weight of the bag. 



