LANDRAIL 245 



protection, internationally, and for a whole year at a time, 

 to certain birds. For example, 1904 might be known 

 all over Europe and Northern Africa as a quail year, 

 during the whole of which period no quail might be 

 taken, sold, or offered for sale. Similarly, 1905 should 

 be a year during which woodcocks only would be as 

 strictly protected ; 1906 a wigeon year ; 1907 a goose 

 year ; 1908 a year in which plovers and their eggs could 

 not be touched these periods to revolve in ever-recurring 

 cycles. I fancy that by some such means International 

 co-operation for the protection of sadly-depleted stocks 

 of quail, woodcock, plover, and similarly valuable 

 creatures might be consummated. In the way indicated 

 neither game-shooter nor wild-fowler would experience 

 much loss of sport in any one year, as certain birds 

 would be in season, and with regard to those protected 

 there would be reasonable expectations of better sport 

 in future seasons. 



The Landrail is a short-winged bird, and moves with 

 laboured flight on first launching itself in the air. It is, 

 perhaps, as frequently missed as even the woodcock itself, 

 by the too-eager or the thoughtless gunner. This not by 

 any means from inherent difficulties presented by the 

 flight of the bird, nor of the course taken by it ; for, in- 

 variably, it flies in an even line straight away from the 

 shooter. Moreover, in a general way, the absence of trees 

 or other visual obstruction enables the coolest and dead- 

 liest aim to be taken. Still the fact remains that youthful 

 and too-keen sportsmen do miss this bird on occasion, 

 and very badly too, sometimes even failing to retrieve 

 the initial error by bringing down the quarry with their 

 second barrel. The bird, often as not, rises quite close 

 to the sportsman, possibly causing some little excitement 



