Sporting Notes in the Far East. 55 



They say that they are not worth powder and shot ; but I think 

 when pheasant are scarce, some very pretty shooting can be en- 

 joyed amongst these small birds; and they are certainly much harder 

 to bag, than their larger messmates the pheasants. 



Quail are netted by the Chinese in great numbers ; these birds 

 being like the snipe, universal all over the East. There is also a 

 smaller and rarer species of the quail to be met, called the "Button 

 Quail" they have a most rich plumage, and are even better eating 

 than the common bird. Button quail are seldom shot out of warm 

 latitudes. 



Borneo again, has a quail of its own ; it being about the size of 

 the Button, but of a much darker plumage, reaching almost to 

 black on the neck and back ; the make and shape of the head 

 and beak are however much the same as other quail, and quite 

 unmistakable. 



Japan is the principal home of the woodcock ; and in some dis- 

 tricts in the autumn, not only are they fairly plentiful, but quite 

 respectable bags may sometimes be made by the " initiated." 

 Isolated birds are also found all up the Russian Tartary coast ; 

 and in China, I believe Port Arthur in the North, is very good in the 

 month of April. But woodcock on the whole, are extremely scarce 

 all over the East, nevertheless I should not forget to mention, one 



