58 Sporting Notes in the Far East. 



apparently deer to any size, at least if one may judge from the 

 dimensions and weights of the horns and skulls, brought down to 

 the coasts by the native hunters. On the coasts themselves, only 

 the small red buck is met with ; averaging about sixty pounds clear 

 weight. These deer do not take much killing at close quarters ; 

 but as that cannot always be managed, I think the largest buck 

 shot, (I believe) L.M. used in a wire cartridge, will be found to 

 effect the best execution at anything under eighty yards. 



On moving one of these animals (unless he is very much startled), 

 I may say, that a successful ruse to enable you to get a standing 

 shot, is to give a sharp shrill whistle ; as on hearing it, they will 

 almost invariably stop dead and look round, and in those brief 

 moments your opportunity occurs. 



At the present time there are but few hares (and they are rapidly 

 getting scarcer), found on the shores of China ; where they once 

 were plentiful, they now appear to have been all either trapped or 

 shot, and the few survivors driven inland. 



In size they are not to be compared with the brown or blue 

 hares of England and Scotland ; and appear to resemble more 

 of what one reads of of old, viz. : the " Scriptural Coney." 



When started, they are very easily shot; and would be in 

 addition excellent eating, where they not so devoid of flavour. 



