SPORT AND SCIENCE ON THE 



was inclined to be marshy, where amongst the 

 tussocks of " nigger-head " grass, we put up a 

 great many hares, several of which were secured. 

 Two Swinhoe's ducks, rising from a small stream, 

 were knocked over with a nice right and left, while 

 a late snipe was also added to the day's bag, 

 which had now reached the respectable tally of 

 six hares, four ducks, two partridges, one bustard 

 and a snipe. Four of the hares, two ducks, one of 

 the partridges and the snipe fell to my gun ; 

 Brodie claimed two hares and a duck ; Schroder, 

 who was using a '22 Winchester, the bustard ; 

 while to Warrington, who, having a tiresome pony 

 to manage, had left his gun in the cart after 

 lunch, belonged the remaining duck and par- 

 tridge. We found comfortable quarters that 

 night at a small village named Ma-ch'ang- 

 ling. 



Next day the sport was as good as that already 

 enjoyed, though the honours were more evenly 

 divided, the day's bag being four hares, two ducks, 

 two plovers and a goose. It is this abundance 

 of mixed small game which lends the chief charm 

 to travel in the interior of China. One may always 

 expect to find something to shoot. There are 

 districts, of course, where no game is met with 

 at all, but fortunately these are not many, usually 

 occurring along much frequented highways in 

 thickly populated areas. 



The country passed through this day was similar 



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