312 SPORT IN BENGAL. 



within a moderate range in hundreds or thousands, and their 

 close vicinity be proclaimed by much quacking and fluttering 

 of wings as they feed unsuspicious of danger, yet it is ex- 

 tremely difficult to distinguish their forms in the weeds ; and 

 though a right and left fired at them first on the water and 

 next on the wing, may take effect upon a score or more, still 

 it is almost impossible to retrieve the wounded, and very 

 difficult to find the dead, unless they chance to lie in clear 

 water. Such drawbacks apart, night shooting is always 

 attended by some danger to health, as the air of the swamps 

 is excessively unwholesome after sunset. 



All who have followed this sport much in their lives, 

 must admit that they have frequently lost their temper by 

 the proceedings of those aggravating birds, the bald or black 

 coots, which will persist in giving themselves the airs of 

 ducks and teal, conceitedly inviting shots at themselves while 

 they cover their betters by interposing their unwelcome pre- 

 sence. During the early forenoon and the evening, these 

 coots keep much to the weedy parts of the lakes, but towards 

 noon they congregate in great numbers in the open water, 

 associating with gadwals, red-headed and crested pochards, 

 round which birds they establish outlying pickets, and make 

 off with much fluttering of wings on the water on the ap- 

 proach of the gunner's canoe, disturbing the ducks and com- 

 pletely spoiling sport. This coot as well as the handsomer 

 purple variety, is much fancied by the natives as an article 

 of food, and therefore it is advisable to shoot a score or two 

 of them, while returning homewards, for servants and crews. 



There are other birds on the "jheels" quite as annoying 

 as the black coots, and they are the greater and lesser 

 whistling teal, which breeding in them in the rainy season 

 make them their permanent home, but are not regarded as 

 game by old sportsmen. These noisy birds rising in countless 

 thousands, keep the choicer species in perpetual alarm and 

 unrest, by their loud and incessant whistling cries as they 

 wheel around and above the gunner's head just beyond range. 

 I have no hesitation in stating, that I have seen at one 



