THE WOODCOCK 



In Mysore, the black -breasted or "rain quail" 

 is more abundant than the common species, and, 

 unlike the latter, it breeds in India, the eggs being 

 laid in August and September. 



Other common Indian quails are the various 

 species known as bush, bustard, and button quails 

 all very small but beautiful birds, the last-named 

 not exceeding about an ounce and a half in weight. 

 As a table bird, I personally do not think much 

 of the quail, but many people like him, and a good 

 deal depends upon how he is cooked. 



Hume, who suffered from gun headache after 

 firing a number of cartridges filled with ordinary 

 loads, employed, for bush-quail shooting, cartridges 

 thus loaded- 

 One drachm of powder, then a thin wad with 

 sawdust above it to partly fill the case ; then 

 another thin card wad followed by half an ounce 

 of No. 10, or of dust-shot, and a cardboard wad 

 above the shot. 



THE WOODCOCK (Scolopax rusticola) 



The woodcock occurs on the Himalayas and 

 other hill ranges in the north, being found thereon 

 at even above 10,000 feet elevation, as well as in 

 tracts at the foot of those hills, and on the Nilgiris, 

 Shevaroys, Anamalais, and other hill ranges in the 

 south. I have, in India, personally shot it only 

 upon the Cossya hills. Woodcock shooting is 

 one of the recognised forms of sport upon the 

 Nilgiris, and though the bags obtained are but 



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