108 SHOOTING IN CHINA 



each wing. The bill is orange, edged with 

 black, and the lump at the base of the bill 

 is also black. Weight 2 to 2)4 Ibs. 



It is hoped that the foregoing presenta- 

 tion of the chief distinguishing features of 

 the various species of wildfowl most com- 

 monly met with in China may be successful 

 in accomplishing even a small part of its 

 contemplated object, which mainly is to 

 foster a more enquiring and intelligent 

 observation on the part of the shooter, and 

 to provoke a keener interest in the beauty, 

 the mysteries and the study of bird life. 



There is an old saying to the effect that 

 you must first catch your hare before you 

 cook it. Bear then with an attempt to 

 " catch our hare " or, in other words, to 

 indicate where and when and how one is 

 most likely to come upon his quest and 

 how we may best secure it. 



Wildfowling in its sense has never what 

 is vulgarly termed "caught on" in China, 

 possibly for reasons among which may 

 be included the time necessary for its 

 successful prosecution, the expenses atten- 

 dant upon it, its many disappointments, 

 dread of the tricky nature of the currents 

 of the Yangtze estuary ; but, perhaps 



