48 Sporting Notes in the Far East. 



In fine weather, on high ground, pheasants in the middle of the 

 day, will draw up to the tops of the hills, and will be found, on 

 the sheltered, and if anything, sunny sides for warmth. 



Towards evening birds will leave the hills, and come down to 

 the plains or edges of cultivated ground to feed. But in the 

 " Mulberry Country " above Shanghai, their habits are different : 

 as on a sunny day they are mostly to be found, basking in the 

 long grass on the edges of the many creeks ; retiring in wet or 

 snowy weather, to the shelter of the large parches, of flag reeds, 

 and brambly cover, which are scattered about in the vicinity of 

 the big and isolated trees. When upon the feed, in early morn 

 and eventide, these birds are nearly all out in the middle of the 

 Mulberry and rice fields ; and at these periods of the day, are as 

 wild as hawks and nearly unapproachable. 



On the flat and uninteresting plains of China ; many pheasants 

 sun themselves, on the tops of the myriads of graves, which dot 

 the country round as far as the eye can see. For this reason they 

 receive from the bland Celestial, the ghastly appellation of " grave 

 birds." 



In walking up cotton or bean fields, for pheasants ; work if 

 possible across the rows, birds are then much less likely to run in 

 front of you and get up out of shot. 



When shooting in a country, when you know there are several 

 other parties out ; it is a mistake to work too hard and walk too 



