228 SPORT IN EUROPE 



The partridges found all over Italy are of the common species, though 

 in Sardinia, where they are plentiful, there exists a painted variety 

 {Perdix rubra). 



Snipe shooting at the seasons of migration is good in the 

 rice fields of Lombardy, in the marshes along the coast, and par- 

 ticularly in those of Sardinia. The woodcock is more 



, ^ . abundant early in November in the Alps and 



and Snipe. 



Apennines, while later on it is possible on certain days 



to make good bags in the woods of the Pontine marshes and Southern 



Italy, and particularly in Sardinia, where a portion of them pass the 



winter. 



Quail reach Italy in May. and breed there in the months of 



June and July ; at the end of autumn they recross the 

 Quail. 



Mediterranean to breed aofain during- winter time in 



Africa. Some remain in Sardinia. 



Sport with w^ater-fowl is excellent in the spots already named 



in connection with snipe, as the rice fields and bogs along the 



seashore. One characteristic national sport is coot 

 Water-fowl. 



driving. The most important is the drive organised 



annually by the Duke di Sermoneta on his lake of Fogliano in the 

 Pontine marshes. The sportsmen, each in a boat propelled by 

 j)unting, are placed in line, and between them there are other 

 craft containing boatmen only, to coniplete the line and keep it 

 closed. Prom one end of the lake the line of punts reaches in 

 the course of an hour and a half the other, driving before it the 

 coots, which, pressed to the shore, lly overhead and settle again 

 in the water behind the line. The punts are then put about, and 



