ROUMANIA 269 



increase in numbers has so far been perfectly satisfactory, more 



particularly in some of the dense whitethorn plantations that cover 



the alluvial lands beside the rivers. These dense patches of thorn 



likewise shelter partridoes, thouoh they have all but 



^ ^ "^ ^ Partridges. 



vanished from the rest of the country. The best 



remaining partridge country is the Dobrutcha, not far from the 



Bulgarian frontier. In some districts, from which the indigenous 



partridge had vanished, attempts were made to fill its place with 



birds imported from Austria, but these efforts have not up to the 



present been crowned with success. 



II.— SHOOTING IN THE PLAINS 



The plains of Roumania furnish bustard, lesser bustard, quail, 

 landrail and woodcock. The bustard is found in considerable 



numbers in the vast plains of the east and south. The 



,.,,.. , • 1 • , r 11 n Bustard 



bird s mstmct bids it keep careiully to great, nat, open 



spaces, unbroken by any hill or tree that might conceal 



an enemy, and so keen is its vision that it would be impossible to 



approach it without being detected. Under these circumstances the 



sportsman goes to the other extreme, not only making no attempt 



to hide, but on the contrary, showing himself carelessly to the bird 



he is stalking as if unaware of its presence. The most successful 



method is to employ one of the native carts with thatched roof, and 



to drive slowly beside the ploughed fields, like some farmer inspecting 



his land. Only, once within shot, it is necessary to pull up promptly 



and fire at once, for the bustard is a most suspicious bird and Hies 



