SMALL GAME 79 



uncommon result of a couple of days' and 

 nights' work. Unfortunately when wood- 

 cock are bagged in great numbers it 

 generally occurs in warm weather, with the 

 consequence that the birds are cast indis- 

 scriminately into the filthy native ice chest 

 to keep them fresh, but where they soon 

 become unfit for the table. 



The Quail (Coturnix communis) was once 

 fairly common throughout the breadth of 

 north China, and for some years really pro- 

 lific on the islands in the reaches of the 

 river near Hankow. But though always a 

 favourite on the table it seems to have been 

 a bird that never had any attraction for the 

 sportsman, who often must think in these 

 days of its scarcity and of his many lost op- 

 portunities. These birds are usually found 

 singly or in very small companies of three 

 or four, never in the large coveys of old. 

 They are essentially running birds and only 

 take to flight when suddenly surprised, 

 when they offer, as a rule, comparatively 

 easy shots, as their flight is both level and 

 straight. Quail are seldom found in damp 

 ground, but may be looked for wherever 

 short buffalo grass abounds, in the long 



