ROUMANIA 271 



Lesser bustard are, as a rule, put up and shot by those out after 

 bustard, and are found in the spring in pairs, or in the autumn in 

 greater numbers. By no means easy to distinguish y. 

 on the ground, they do not, however, fly any great Lesser 

 distance, and may in consequence be marked down as 

 they alight, and shot as they rise. The lesser bustard is a handsome 

 bird, about the size of a fowl, the back yellow, the breast white, 

 head and wing-tips black ; and the male bird wears a black-and- 

 white collar. 



The quail is the most widely-distributed game bird on the plains 

 of Roumania, and is shot only over dogs, chiefly in the millet fields, 



or in the corn just after harvest. In good years and 



Quail. 

 on well-chosen ground, the sportsman should have no 



great difficulty in bagging his hundred birds in a day. For such 



sport, however, a good dog is wanted, one that can bear both heat 



and thirst, and English pointers have been found to give the best 



results. 



Some idea of the abundance of quail may be formed when I 

 mention the fact that there are Englishmen who return home with 

 barrels full of quail preserved by cooks whom they bring out with 

 them for the purpose. 



The landrail, or " Kinij of the Ouails," is found in the wetter 

 portions of the plains, where it is sufficiently abundant. Its success- 

 ful pursuit, however, demands the co-operation of an 



Landrail. 

 active dog, as the bird will always run as long as 



possible, rising only as a last resource to escape the dog's jaws. It 

 is when the hay is being cut and small patches only remain untouched 



