PHEASANT SHOOTING. 



20 ; 



MONGOLIAN PHEASANT IN FLIGHT. 



turned to the scene of our early 

 morning shooting. Working along 

 a vine-grown fence, the dog made a 

 point, and William flushed two birds, 

 of which he got one. We then re- 

 turned to the house for something to 

 eat. 



After dinner Mr. McEldowney re- 

 ported a pheasant in the garden 

 patch, and we were soon out among 

 the luxuriant corn and pumpkins. 

 There were two or three birds in the 

 patch, but they were too sharp for 

 us, and, flushing wild, sailed away in 

 the distance. Garden patches are 

 great resorts for the insectivorous 

 Mongolian pheasant, and some good 

 shooting is sometimes to be had in 

 such a place. McEldowney kindly 

 volunteered to go out with us, and 

 we were soon on our way to the 

 fields. Nearing the spot where we 

 killed our first bird, Paddy was sent 

 into the thick cover, and before we 

 quit shooting we had three birds 

 down. Another clump of willows 

 yielded two birds, one of which es- 



caped my fire only to run again J 

 a charge from William's gun. We 

 crossed the road again, and this time 

 the great wheat stubble prodi 

 five or six pheasants. The killing oi 

 one of the large cocks was remarka- 

 ble. William had crossed a little 

 creek and was beating the brush and 

 hillside. 1 [earing a peculiai 

 ing noise and the discordant call 

 several bluejays, 1 made my way in 

 the direction of tin- tumult. I found 

 that the sounds emanated from tin- 

 thick brush a short distance up the 

 hillside, and, believing thai Will 

 would hear the noise and in\ e« 

 I for some minutes stood still 

 awaited developments. Finally, 1 

 heard William making hi 

 through the brush, and in anotl 

 minute tin- ja) s d theii 



With a cackle of defian< 

 cock pheasant came thresli 

 through the tree-tops. I had b 

 anticipating some such move, and, 

 catching a snap sight of tin- met< 

 like form among t lie uppei 



