Sporting Notes in the Far East. 119 



diving to escape. I quickly sent the dog in, and a most exciting 

 chase ensued ; away they swam, as the duck dived, so down under 

 water would go Rock's head, to keep if possible an eye on the 

 fugitive's course ; then immediately the pursued rose to the surface, 

 up would come the old dog's nose for a mouthful of air, only to 

 disappear again at the next dive ; this " Now you see it, and now 

 you don't ! " kind of performance went on for some time, till at last 

 they both disappeared into some reeds, the far side of the lake, and I 

 gave up all hopes of ever seeing the mallard again ; so judge of my 

 intense surprise, when a quarter of an hour later, whilst I was hotly 

 engaged with the snipe, who should struggle up, but old Rock, 

 with the duck still alive in his mouth. It was a dearly bought 

 performance, as through having swallowed so much water, he was 

 blown out like a balloon, and was quite useless for the remainder 



of the day. 



Bags. 



i Gun. Isahaya, December loth, '87. 2 Guns. Kow-wara. 



25 Snipe. 6 Teal. 9 Snipe. 2 Quail. 



5 Quail. i Rail. i Bittern. i Duck. i Teal. 



There are a few painted snipe to be picked up at the head of 

 Nagasaki harbour ; but it is more than dirty shooting. 



Nagasaki is not much for pheasants ; but there is an island called 

 Oki sima, a four mile pull from the anchorage, where, with a good 

 dog, a few pheasants and perhaps a cock or two, may easily be 



