^02 WITH BOAt AND GtJN IN THE YANGTZE VALLliV. 



Wildfowl shooting is about on a par with that of pheasant shooting. Hundreds of 

 duck, teal, and often geese, may be seen at the upper parts of the flat sandy island that 

 shows up at low water opposite the Pagoda, but they are most difficult of approach. Birds 

 may be occasionally shot at the mouth of the " unknown river " — so-called from no foreigner 

 having as yet explored the source of the stream. Higher up among the rapids ducks are 

 also often seen. On the banks off Sunday Island about 120 miles below Ichang the wild- 

 fowl shooting must be very fine, for the natives will sometimes sell five wild-geese for a 

 dollar, duck for a mere song, and often the lesser bustard which is delicious eating. 



Woodcocks were formerly shot at Nanchingkuan, 3 miles up river, behind the large 

 temple, but these birds have seldom been seen there of late years. Sometimes an old bird is 

 flushed in the ditches south of the "Camp." There are a few quail and plenty of doves 

 within a short distance of the city. 



There are no deer near Ichang. The only one I have seen was far up the " unknown 

 river " among the lower hills to the north. It was out of range, but seemed of good size and 

 considerably larger than the ordinary river deer. Hares are frequently put up on the hills 

 around. It may be asked " What about the beautiful long-tailed Reeves', the lovely golden 

 and sturdy Tragopan pheasants ; the leopards, tigers, and the mountain chamois ? " The 

 best answer to such questions will be to say a few words about the relation of each to 

 Ichang and its vicinity. 



Ten years ago the so-called "Monastery" valley, five miles below the Settlement on 

 the south bank, was famous for Reeves' pheasant ; but those days are over, and the valley, 

 I believe, contains this pheasant no more. They are occasionally flushed on the higher 

 ground above Nanto. Changyang offers a much more promising field for these birds. From 

 tip of beak to end of tail, I have seen a specimen measuring 6 feet ID inches. The golden 

 pheasant is not of local origin but is often come across on the borders of this province, and 

 is not unfrequently offered for sale in our streets. Tragopans do not breed here but are 

 now and then brought down from far west. 



The thickly wooded district of Changyang, about three days' journey on the south 

 bank of the river, ought certainly to be tried for big game, such as wild-pig, leopards and 

 tigers ; and, judging from Mr. Pratt's interesting account of his visits to those parts in his 

 work. To the Snows of Tibet through China, there ought to be fine sport, and this, too, without 

 much danger, for I have never heard of natives having been attacked by any wild beasts. 



Mountain goat shooting on the high hills is disappointing. A sure foot and clear head 

 are indispensable, and as these wary animals are few and the shots usually long and difficult, 

 the trip is often unsuccessful. About China New Year, with a little snow on the mountains, 

 is the best time for this kind of shooting, the brush-wood that grows on the sides of the 

 steep cliffs is not so dense then and allows of a better chance of seeing anything along the 

 ledges of the. limestone rocks. At first I shot with an ordinary small-bore magazine 

 Winchester, afterwards with a Martini-Henry rifle, but finally I got out from home a 450 

 rifle — 125 grains powder and 300 grains " express " bullet. This weapon proved a great success. 



The Rev. Pdre Hend has kindly named one of these mountain goats after myself — the 

 Kemas aldridgeanus — and a specimen is described by him in Les Memoires concernant I'Histoire 

 Naturelle de I'Empire Chinois. 



