80 SHOOTING IN CHINA 



stubbles left by the Chinese sickles, and on 

 the marsh lands in the dry season. On open 

 grounds like these they readily fall victims 

 to the deadly drag-net. The captives are 

 then secured in low flat baskets, topped by 

 a cloth, and forwarded alive to the various 

 markets. Considerable numbers are also 

 sent south to Canton and other cities in the 

 south, where they are largely bought for 

 sporting purposes. The quail is a very 

 pugnacious little bird, and would seem to 

 like fighting for fighting's sake. After a 

 battle or two they become real experts, and 

 good fighting birds can always command 

 long prices at the hands of the lovers of the 

 main. Quail possess a very strong scent, as 

 evidenced by the great distance at which a 

 dog may at first point them, and lie well. A 

 light charge of No. 8 or No. 9 shot will be 

 found to be all that is necessary. 



It is on record that quail in China once 

 " were often so numerous as to obscure the 

 sun in their flights, " but that time may 

 certainly be put down as prehistoric. 



The Wild Turkey, sometimes called 

 the Turkey Bustard (Otisdybowski) is also 

 scientifically known as otis tarda from the 



