ASHY-HEADED GREEN PIGEON 31 



Very early in the morning, whilst the sun is still below the horizon 

 and before the magic dawn of the East leaps into day, the birds com- 

 mence to arrive at their feeding-ground in ones or twos and small 

 parties, and the first shots at the still unfrightened birds are com- 

 paratively easy, so that the sportsman, after a few successful shots, 

 begins to feel on good terms with himself. As the sun begins to peep 

 into sight and climbs slowly up to the tree-tops, the birds come faster 

 and faster and in bigger flocks ; but the constant firing that is going 

 on tells them of their enemies' presence, and they put on the pace and 

 dodge, swoop, and turn in a manner that often completely baffles the 

 best shot, so that though cartridges are expended faster than ever, 

 fewer birds fall in proportion, and it is an exceptional shot who can 

 gather on an average one bird for every alternate cartridge. At such 

 times as this I have seen a flock of birds nm the gaimtlet of seven 

 guns — ^my own, alas ! amongst them — ^and finally vanish with their 

 number complete and nothing more than a few feathers fluttering 

 slowly to the ground to show that one shot amongst the seven has 

 been more nearly successful than the rest. Up to about 9.30 a.m. 

 the fun is fast and furious, but then by degrees it slackens off until 

 by noon the birds have all retired to the deeper forests, where they 

 take their ^ siestas during the heat of the day, a faint melodious whistle 

 in the distance telling the whereabouts of some belated flock which 

 retires after the others have aU gone. 



No more shooting can now be expected until about three or four 

 o'clock in the afternoon, so the sportsmen may lunch in comfort, and, 

 if they choose, follow the example of the birds and indulge in forty 

 winks. But an August afternoon in the plains of India is too hot 

 even for sleep out of doors, however thick the shade, so a 

 temporary adjournment is generally made to the nearest planters' 

 bungalow until it is time once more to recommence work at the 

 birds. 



As the shadows begin to lengthen the Pigeons again arrive on 

 the feeding-grounds in the forests in numbers that show little diminu- 

 tion in spite of the toU taken from the flocks in the morning. For a 

 couple of hours the birds continue to flight backwards and forwards 

 between the trees on which they are feeding, and until dusk begins to 

 gather there is no cessation to the shooting. As soon, however, as 

 the sun dips behind the distant trees, the flocks commence to wend 



