SPORT IN THE CRIMEA. n 



Knowing that we are already seen, and being 

 perfectly well aware that by ordinary stalking on 

 these open plains we could never get nearer than 

 three hundred yards from the herd before the old 

 sentinel sets them all in motion with his shrill call, 

 we retrace our steps, and get our comrades together. 

 Then the horses are put to, and all with our guns 

 in readiness we drive towards the point at which 

 the bustards were seen. When within sight of 

 them we make arrangements among ourselves, and 

 then the drosky is driven quietly past the bustards 

 some five hundred yards from them. All their 

 heads are up, and the whole of the herd of two 

 hundred is watching us intently ; but they know 

 something of the range of a gun, and feel safe 

 enough to stay yet awhile. Watch hard as you 

 may, grey birds, you didn't notice that one of the 

 occupants of the droshky has just rolled off, gun in 

 hand, and is now lying flat buried in a deliciously 

 fragrant bed of rosemary. One by one, as the 

 droshky circles round the watchful birds, the occu- 

 pants drop off and lie still, until at last we have a 

 cordon of sportsmen drawn right round the herd, 

 and only the yemstchik remains on the droshky. 

 Slowly, so as not to frighten them, he narrows his 

 circle, while each hidden gunner keeps his eye 

 anxiously on his movements. 



At last, having stretched their necks to the very 

 utmost limit and twisted them into gyrations that 



