H. R. H. THE PRIXCE OF WALES’ SHOOTING IN INDIA. 1099 
came and fluttered about among the branches a few feet from his head and 
■eventually jierched on the end of his rifle barrel. 
Two more beats resulted in nothing. This finished the shooting in Bhopal 
between the dates of February 4th and February 7th, 1922. The total bag in 
the Bhopal shoot waS' — 
Big Game- 
Tigers . . 
Panthers 
Sambhar 
Xilgai . , 
Wild Boar 
Small Game- 
Snipe 
3 
2 
12 
2 
1 
18.^ couple. 
Sand Grouse . . . . . . . . 1.5 brace. 
Duck . . . . . . . . . . 12 couple. 
The bag given is not a large one, but it is only fair to all concerned to point 
out that in February the trees and bushes are still covered with leaves, and grass 
is high, which increases the difficulty of turning out animals. In addition to the 
difiiculties in beating at this time of year, perhaps ill-luck was inadvertently 
added through disregarding the idiosyncrasies of Indian shooting. It is 
fatal to mention the word “ Kargosh ” (a hare) when starting out; the partridge 
may have called upon the left hand side, a fatal omen up to noon, but the 
reverse after midday ; and both the grey (Francolinus pondicerianus), with its 
cry of “ pateela-pateela pateela,” and the painted variety {Francolinus pictus), 
with that curious harsh call, translated by Hindus into “ lahsan piaz adrak ” 
(garlic, onions and gmger), and by Musalmans into “ Khuda teri Kudrat ” (God 
is your strength), were calling all day : a cat may have crossed the road, or 
some one sneezed in front (a sneeze behind is lucky). These and other similar 
hindrances to good luck may well have influenced the bag but they did not 
affect a most enjoyable outing. The shoot in Bhopal must be considered 
both on account of the variety of the bag and of the care and hospitality of its 
august ruler equal to any of the great shoots arranged by the various States in 
India to do honour to His Roval Highness. 
NOTE ON BHOPAL SHOOTING. 
Tiger {F. tigns). 
In Bhopal the country where shoots take place offers unique opportunities 
for good tiger shooting. There are very large cliffs in the jungles and the beaters 
try to drive the tigers in the direction of the cliffs where it is difficult for them 
to escajie. In my opmion this is the easiest method of shooting, is surer, and 
does not involve as much trouble and labour as the ringing and netting 
systems used in Nepal and Mysore respectively. 
Sir Geoffrey de Montmorency told me something rather interesting in con- 
nection with tigers in Bhopal. He and Major Harvey one Sunday when they 
could not shoot saw a tiger sit over its kill nearly nine hours. 
NOTES ON THE FAUNA AND FLORA IN THE SHOOTING 
DISTRICTS ROUND BHOPAL. 
Fauna . — The Avriter well remembers being told before he visited Bhopal 
that the jungles of this State provide the finest mixed bags in the whole of 
India. This is very true. 
