100 SHOOTING IN CHINA 



R. Payne Gallwey " there is no perceptible 

 difference in plumage between the male and 

 female of any wild goose." In the case of 

 duck and teal the females are invariably of 

 so sombre a colour that in many cases and 

 at certain seasons it may not be so easy to 

 determine at once the species. 



Though admittedly inadequate the 

 following description of the duck and teal 

 in China, based upon examination of typical 

 male specimens in the Shanghai museum 

 will, it is hoped, suffice to impress upon the 

 mind of the uninitiated some of those more 

 salient features and characteristics by which, 

 with comparative ease and certainty, a 

 species may be determined. And that is 

 all. For who shall attempt with any 

 realism to depict, " Artist in words " 

 though he be, the gorgeous sheen of the 

 cock pheasant's breast, or the iridescence of 

 the beautiful Mandarin duck? 



There can be no question that an ability 

 to discriminate between the several species 

 which may be found in the day's bag would 

 greatly enhance the interest in the sport, but 

 unfortunately, in the case of too many 

 shooters, the contents of the bag are birds 



