NO GAME-LAWS IN INDIA. 95 



As they intended to beat the hills for bears, when 

 tigers should no longer be procurable in the rivers, 

 they thought it best not again to disturb by a few 

 hours' desultory sporting and chance of a shot, the 

 ground, where, with good early morning arrange- 

 ments, bears might be marked down. 



To the English sportsman, it may appear strange 

 that partridges should be shot in May. But in 

 India there are no game-laws, nor is there restriction 

 as to season. As the whole country is open to be 

 shot over at the will of the sportsman, and probably 

 no limited preservation would lead to the increase of 

 game birds, he destroys them wherever or whenever 

 he desires. Nor does the breeding-season often 

 deter him ; though, as the cold weather is the 

 most convenient and pleasant for the pursuit of 

 small game, the use of his shot-gun is usually 

 limited to that time, and to a portion of the 

 monsoon. 



I have used the term " breeding-season ; " but 

 whether, after all, that is confined to a certain 

 period, I should think extremely doubtful. There 

 are one or two species of wild-duck which visit the 

 tanks during the monsoon, as well as in the cold 

 weather ; and I have seen young progenies of one 

 particular species at both seasons. The grey part- 

 ridge, too, with its young brood, I have observed 



