WILD-FOWL, SNIPE, ETC. 151 



or three weeks, and then they disappear, though 

 a few odd brace may be generally found in a bag 

 at the end of a day's shooting. 



The black-breasted quail I have never seen in 

 such large numbers, and my best bag of them was 

 only nine brace. This was made near Kamptee, in 

 the Central Provinces. In conclusion, as showing 

 a fair mixed bag that may be obtained by average 

 shots, I append the results of two days' shooting 

 at Mongolpiir, nine miles out on the Rhotuk 

 road, near Delhi, in 1869 ; myself and two other 



guns: 



One ravine deer, or chikara, twelve pea-fowl, 

 eleven hares, twenty-five black partridge, seven 

 wild-duck, three teal, twenty-five quail, two 

 pigeons (green), four bittern,* and one hundred 

 and forty-three snipe. We had, besides, shot at 

 black buck, but failed to get any. 



As an illustration of the variety of game to be 

 found around Delhi, I remember that in 1869, 

 when encamped on the historical ridge near 

 Hindu Rao's House, our mess larder-tent contain- 

 ed the following : Black buck, ravine deer, geese 

 (both varieties), Brahmini duck, mallard, red- 

 headed pochard, whistling teal, blue- winged teal, 



* Botaurus stellaris. 



