A DAY AFTER SxMALL GAME. 131 



in India as " tats." An hour's ride between thick clumps 

 of tall feathery-foliaged bamboos — like gigantic ostrich- 

 phimes — tliat sometimes flanked the road, or through um- 

 )i:ii;eous groves of grand old mango-trees, brought us to our 

 ground, where a small crowd of beaters, gun-carriers, dogs, 

 &c., had already preceded us. Our line being formed, we 

 forthwith commenced business by beating up a few grassy 

 iclds and scattered patches of bushes, from which a hare, 

 )iie or two grey partridges, and a few stray quails were 

 transferred to the game-bag. I call them stray quails, be- 

 3ause the common grey quail, being a migratory bird, is not 

 'ound in any numbers except during a few weeks in the 

 spring and autumn, although varieties called the rain-quail 

 md bush-quail are met with at other timeB, the former only 

 hiring the rainy season, the latter at any time, in bush 

 iingle. 



After quitting the fields, we beat through a sedgy swamp, 

 vhere some long-bills, including several little jack-snipe, are 

 )icked up, whilst others twist away unscathed by our erratic 

 hots. Our quota of snipe is added to by one or two of the 

 )ainted variety, which rise from the longer reedy grass more 

 ike a big butterfly than a game-bird. On nearing a bushy 

 ■;orner of the "jheel" (marsh), the welcome cry, "Mark 

 voodcock," comes from ^sculapius on the right of the line ; 



nd we have the satisfaction of seeing this much -prized bird 



light in a thicket some distance ahead, where it is again 

 lushed and falls to the gun of the " G. T." 



Our beat now leads through long grass, beside a clear 

 lebbly stream called the Sooswa, that derives its name from 

 cs abounding with water-cresses, broad luxuriant patches of 

 /hich might be seen extending along its bed, sometimes for 



fty yards or more in length. We have not proceeded far 

 vhen " whir-r whir-r " go a brace of black partridge (fran- 

 •olin) as they rise high over the grass and make away with 



tie dashing straightforward flight which is their wont. 



Bang, bang " on the right goes our medical adviser, before 



I 



