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TO THE EDITOR OF THE "DAILY PRESS.
SIR, Shootist's" letter in your issue of yesterdate raises some interesting points to local sportsmen.
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There is no doubt in my mind that the par- tridge to be got here (with considerable exertion!) is the same bird as the francolin," but of the woodcock I am not able to speak with any certainty as to the limits of its migratory flight.
What regard to the snipe, however, I do not think there is the least doubt that the spring and winter suipe are the same and are moreover the same birds as found in the north. On their
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS, AND
"1st.The Common or Winter Snipe. Is gener. ally to be found on marsh or wet land from November to March. Length, bill to tail 10 inches. Weight, 4 to 4 ounces. Fea- thers, 14 in tail, all ordinary full sizel. "2nd.--Swinhoe's Snipe-Is one of the two migratory (spring and autumn) species; is to be found on grass land, in bean fields, Spring, 15th April to 12th May. Autumn, August and September. Length, bill to tail, 1 to 12 inches. Weight, 6 to:81 ounces. Feathers, 20 tail feathers, of which 8 central are ordinary or winter, 12 (6 on each side) are stiff and narrow.
&c.
southward flight in the autumn. in search ord.-Pintailed Snipe-Is the second of the two warner climes, they pass over this neighbour. Lood about September. Shortly after they make their appearance here they may be found in Forneo and in the Straits-undoubtedly the sama birds, which are thus evidently travelling south. The only difference between the spring and aitama snipe is that the former seems to be a batter fod and consequently larger bird than when he passed through in the autumn.
Winter birds have more white on the breast than, and are not so much barred under the wings as, the more popular migrants. But the great point of distinction, always reliable, lies in the tail feathers. Roughly speaking a Pintail is an ounce heavier than the Winter, and an ounce less than the Swinhoe."-Yours faithfully,
SHA-TSUI,
The breeding of pheasants on this island is. as far as I can ascertain, not such a success as the attempt perhaps deserves. It is difficult to say why.
But it is a significant fact that while the pho wants on the preserva at the sunt's of the island do not seem to increase, in fact, the reverso-there have been more pheasants shot in the neighbourhood of Canton than has ever been known before. Query --Do the Hong kong pheasants follow the example of the inaster of a burnt out. Chinese store and "go Canton ?" I would suggest, however, that had Aberdeen been chosen as the preserving ground instead of the island between Taitamtuk and Taitam (1 give these boundaries subject to correction) the cover in the former place would have been found more suitable for that purpose. Yours faith-ready in the past to avail of suggestions involv fully,
Hongkong, 4th January, 1896.
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GUNNER.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE "DAILY PRESS."
SIE,-Perhaps Gunner will allow me to differ from him on the subject of the identity of the spring and winter (or rather autumu) snipe. If he will take the trouble, to measure a few specimens of both, he will find that the average length of the spring snip is considerably greater than that of the bird found in this neigh. bourhood about September.
The phasant breeding experiment does seem to have proved a failure: none but the most sanguine ever expected it to be otherwise! By the way, with regard to this game preserve, it would be much more simple if the game licences issued by the Government stated definitely where one may shoot, rather than where one may not. The wording of the licences is, to say the least of it, bewildering, and as far as one can gather, shooting is prohibited not only over the Tytam Peninsula, but also over all the ground between the Shankiwan-Tytam Road and Cape D'Aguilar, or fully half the island as far as shooting is concerned.
It is a great pity that the rocky nature of the soil makes it impossible to breed and preserve the humble but homely "bunny." It was, I believe, tried some years ago on Stonecutters Island and, in spite of the fact that the artificial burrows made for them were unsuitable, rabbits were seen there for many years after they were originally laid down. The climate would therefore appear suited to them, and it is a well-known fact that they will breed anywhere, but it is unfortunate that nature has ordained that the rabbit shall spend a great part of his time underground, so that where he cannot burrow he cannot exist.- Yours faithfully,
SNAPSHOT.
Hongkong, 6th January, 1896.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE "DAILY PRESS.
SIE, The following note, which I understand is from the pen of a naturalist who resided for many years in the East, I publish in reply to Shootist's" inquiries in your issue of 3rd inst. with regard to snipe
着求
Note.
Six species of true Snipes are to be met with in this part of China, but the sportsman rarely comes across more than the following three varieties Winter, Swinhoe, Pintailed,
January
and ley
the posts at the village end of the sportsmen who assemble at the are unanimously of opinion that should be stopped, if not alto juntil after 8 a.m. when the morni is usually over. The matter is one province of the energetic Clerk of the and appears to be one for the Government to deal with. If the authorities remove this causs for complaint they will earn the gratitude of every owner, rider, and
MAN AT THE RAILS. Hongkong, 3rd January, 1896...
LOCAL AND DISTRICT EVENTS, 1895.
ments.
JANUARY
migratory species, is to be found frequent- ing the same haunts as the Swinhoes, and in their company, and migrates practically at the same reasons, that is to say, that in a day's bag both species will probably be 1st.-Cape Cami Light exhibited for the first found. Length, bill to tail 104 to 11 inches. Weight. 5 ounces and up. Feathers, 264th-Death of the Crown Prince of Siam,
time. Sports at Taikoo Sugar Refinery, 7 tail feathers, 10 central are ordinary or 6th.-Fire at 230, Queen's Koad, The P. M. winter, 16 (8 on each side) are very short,
steamer City of Kio de Janeiro, while on the narrow and stiff, with scarcely any web. These webless feathers are the pins from
passage between Yokohama and Nagasaki, which the bird is named.
grazed a rock near Cape Mino and was 7th.-Amoy Races, first day.-The King of beached; arrived at Nagasaki on the 14th.
Korea formally declared the independence of his kingdom.-M. de Lanessan, Governor- General of Indo-China, left Haiphong, hav- ing been recalled for divulging official docu- 8th.-Amoy Races, second day. 9th.-Haiphing captured by the Japanese.—
Two Chinese concerned in an armed raid at Winglok Street, Hongkong, found guilty of murder at the Supreme Court and sentenced to death.-Amoy Races, third day, 11th.-Arrival of Rear-Admiral de Beau nont, 10th-Kaiping captured by the Japanese.
appointed to the command of the French Naval Division in the Far East.-Fublic meeting at Singapore to express approval of the resignation of the unofficial members of Council, Justices of the Peace, etc, in con- nection with the military contribution. 12th-Fire at the China Mail office. Children's
treat at the Central Police Station. 13th.-Indo-China steamer Taiwo left Shanghai. for Hankow and was wrecked on the Tang- shan Crossing.
Hongkong, 6th January, 1896.
A BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. TO THE EDITOR OF THE "DAILY PRESS. SIB. As the powers that be have always been
ing the passage of Ordinances which had for their object the regulation of something or other in the colony, I come forward with a proposal that a Board of Agriculture be formed. It might be a matter of some difficulty to get. suitable men to accept the appointment, as the majority of Europeans here employ the most of their time in collecting the precious metals and I fear have little or no experience of farming,
The principal function of the Board would be to see that vegetable gardens conducted by Chinese in the neighbourhood of the City and more particularly to the eastward are run on European lines. If this wore the case a great boon would be conferred on residents who avail of the Shan-ki-wan Road or that beautiful sylvan walk leading to the Blue Pool (alas! bluo no longer) beyond the Racecourse, in search of fresh air and gentle exercise.
It is no uncommon sight on the nearest ap- proach we have to the Bois de Boulogne to see more than one gentleman walking along with an independent air. I leave the reader to guess the reason, but I may mention it is unfor- tunately not because he is a millionaire. Or a smart trap may fit past the pedestrian with the occupants looking intently at the Channel rocks. Can you guess why? I know, but I do not like to tell.-Yours faithfully,
PEDESTRIAN.
Hongkong, 31st December, 1895.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE "DAILY PRESS." SIR, Iu a letter which appeared in your issue of 1st inst your correspondent "Pedes- trian
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advocates the establishment of a Board of Agriculture for the better regulation of cer- tain matters in connection with the tillage of the soil of the colony. The attention of such Board, should it ever be established, and if not, that of the powers that be, ought certainly to be drawn to another custom of the Chinese residing or squatting on the land surrounding the Wongnaicheong village in the Happy Valley, which is as great a nuisance to riding men and frequenters of the racecourse in the early morning as is the practice complained of by Pedestrian " to evening strollers.
I allude to the burning of weeds which goes on with the utmost regularity during the train. ing season. The smoke hangs over the race- course, pollutes the fresh morning air, gets into the lungs of ponies and riders, and pre- vents owners at the rails from having an uniu- terrupted view of what their animals are doing. As a general rule it is impossible to distinguish
A
14th.-Annual meeting of Punjom Mining Co., Limited; rote of want of confidence in tho directors passed.-Court of Inquiry at Shang-, | hai respecting the loss of the British ship Sea Swallow on 16th December. Four houses in Nanking Read, Shanghai, burnt. 15th. Annual mobilization of the Hongkong
Garrison.
16th.-Prize day at the Diocesan School and
Orphanage.
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17th-Prize day at Queen's College-Prince Chow Fa Malavajiravudh proclaimed Crown Prince of Siam.-General Wei Yukwei exe, cuted at Peking for cowardice. 18th.-Paper read by Mr. Justice Ackroyd
before the "Odd Volumes Society on Fines. and Imprisonment.-Fires at 189 Queen's Road Central, and 15, Mercer Street.-Earth quake at Tokyo and Yokohama... 19th. Tungchow-fu bombarded by the Japanese. 20th. On the Kaiser-i-Hind, near Acheen:
Point, a Lascar jumped overboard and in trying to rescue him Mr. A. J. Cooper, the second officer, and an A.B, named Foster were drowned. 23rd.-Manila Exhibition opened.-St. George's
Ball, Hongkong. 24th.-Launch of the gunboat Quiros built for the Spanish Government at Kowloon Docks. →→→ Death of Prince Arisugawa of Japan Singa- pore Chamber of Commerce declined to nominate a member of the Legislative Council, in consequence of the military contribution dispute.
28th.—Accident to N. P. steamer Victoria at,
Moji.--Children's dramatic performance Government House. 29th.-Yungohing (Shantung) captured:
Japanese-The Winglok Street murdereïs Au Chun and Li Pong executed-The Kana kui cotton mill at Osaka burnt. ✨、 30th.-Opening performance of the pantomime
"Robinson Crusoe.” by the A.D.O. ↑ 31st.-Outer forts of Weihaiwei captured by Japanese-Death of Mr. Albert Deacon, senior
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