380 SPORTING IN BOTH HEMISPHERES. 



as curlew, herons, and water-rail in great variety, but the 

 difficulty of approach prevented our getting many specimens. 

 One pot shot we were fortunate to obtain I shall never for- 

 get. I observed a small piece of water at the corner of a 

 field, and immediately under a high embankment, covered 

 with some dark objects which I took at first to be weeds, 

 but upon a nearer approach proved to be teal and widgeon. 

 We had nothing to do but to creep quietly under this bank, 

 and be almost certain of obtaining a good shot into the 

 midst of them. Accordingly, we put these tactics into 

 execution, agreeing, if possible, to fire one barrel each at 

 them whilst they were in a sedentary position, and the 

 remaining two upon their rising on the wing. 



Everything favoured our intentions, and having crept 

 to within twenty paces of the unconscious game, we gently 

 ascended the bank, and gave them a volley in the above- 

 mentioned manner. Eight birds lay dead, and about twelve 

 more were wounded, diving and fluttering about in the water. 

 They were all widgeon, and of that beautiful plumage 

 resembling the mandarin duck, and exceedingly plump and 

 fat. We met with great numbers of bitterns, of different 

 sizes and plumage. One of them (a small species) of tl \ 

 most delicious cinnamon colour. The feathers of these birds 

 I consider would be invaluable for the manufacture of 

 artificial salmon- flies. 



The whole surface of the country being covered with grain, 

 we had no opportunity of finding any hares, which are said 

 to abound, but flushed several pheasants, one of which, a 

 magnificent cock, with a ring of white feathers round his 

 neck, I could not resist knocking over ; but although very 

 pleasing to the eye, he turned out a very tough morsel to 

 the teeth. Upon regaining the embankment on the river- 

 side, we observed our own vessel with all sail set sweeping 

 upwards with the tide towards Shanghai. We had no diffi- 



