6 WILD LIFE IN CHINA. 



Anser Cygnoides. The swan-goose. Nail black. Bill 

 black. Dark stripe down back of neck. Probable ancestor 

 of common domestic goose in China. 



Anser Cinereus. The greylag goose. Nail white or 

 whitish. Flesh-coloured beak and feet. Wing coverts and 

 rump slaty grey. Abdomen white. Length 35ins. Probable 

 ancestor of European domestic species; supposed by some to 

 get its name from its habit of "lagging" behind other speciesat 

 migrating times! But the Double Dorset for "leg" is "lag", 

 and the tint of the leg is a greyish pink a more likely 

 derivation. Not very numerous here. 



Anser nigricans. The Pacific brent goose. An occa- 

 sional visitor. "Brent" is spelt "brant" in America, and is 

 referred to "brand" and 'brindled." 



A wild-goose chase, notwithstanding the spice of sneer- 

 ing superiority which the user of the phrase sometimes 

 tacitly arrogates to himself, is one of the most exciting, 

 exacting, and at the same time healthful exercises which the 

 sportsman can undertake. How he may set about it will 

 best be found in the pages of "With Boat and Gun", where 

 Mr. Duncan Glass and others tell the tale once for all. We 

 may not all have a "Clutha" to take us out to the shooting 

 ground, but other less lordly means are suggested. I have 

 spent a comfortable night, when after duck, in the humble 

 harbour sampan, but that was long ago. Shooting may be 

 done from the punt, or ashore by dint of stalking, flighting, 

 or driving. With the first, using a heavy punt gun and a 

 pound of shot, the biggest bag to one discharge that I ever 

 heard of was 52 geese got by Sir Charles Ross many years 

 ago. One has to think of the market when asked to defend 

 snooting of this sort. Also of the cornfields afore-mentioned, 

 or the crofter's little patch in danger of utter extinction, 

 and, as I have seen them, of the vast prairie fields of Oregon 

 and California with (probably) Anser Setfetitin in hundreds 

 and thousands at work on them. Of grass, eight geese de- 

 vour as much as a cow! Bearing these facts in mind "brown- 

 ing a gaggle" whenever opportunity occurs is defensible. 

 Personally I prefer single shots with the smaller weapon. 

 Then the stalk is the thing. There they are out in the 

 middle of the open country. Is there any cover? If not, 

 the old world stratagem of the stalking horse, cow, or buffalo 

 must be tried. A painted canvas counterfeit presentment of 

 the last is used sometimes in China, the shooter and his 

 confederate providing the legs, and working gradually up to 

 their quarry. But the goose is a wary gentleman notvvitlr 

 standing his reputation for stupidity. His sentries are well 

 posted, and he keeps his weather eye open himself. If the 

 operation is successful the bag will ba all the heavier, but 



