Pheasants, the shooting of which commences in October, appear to have been plentiful only in certain areas. We have been informed that none whatever are to be found in hilly country, where formerly they could he counted on. On the other hand they appear to be fairly plentiful in low-lying moist areas. One sportsman reports shooting unusually large cocks. This distribution of the pheasants is also put down to the weather which prevailed during the summer, there being no sort of food and practically no water in the hilly districts as a result of the drought Pheasants have been more plentiful in the immediate environs of Shanghai than usual.

While one sportsman also reports woodcock as being unusually plentiful immediately round Shanghai and another found them in satisfactory numbers in the Haiee (Hai.yen) district on the Hangchow Bay, a third reports that the season for these sporting birds is a very poor one.

The last mentioned sportsmen reports quail as heing extremely plentiful this season, more so than they have been for many years past.

From all accounts wild duck and teal are about in their usual large numhers in the Yangtze Estuary, though we have not heard of any large bags. Geese have been heard passing over in considerable numbers from time to time.

The local game market is a fairly good indicator of the abundance or otherwise of game, and it may he stated, as a point of interest, that it confirms the above reports. There appear to be plenty of good large cock pheasants for sale, very few snipe or woodcock, and a good supply of ducks and teal in excellent condition. River deer, too, are being offered, and we have actually noted bustard, which, of course, have been sent down from the north.

Tigers Reported in Tongan: Tigers, according to a news item in the China Press of November 29, are reported tohave been making raids upon the outlying villages to the north of Tongan in in Chekiang Province, where they are alleged to have killed and eaten no fewer than eight people who were stealing potatoes from a field. If there is any truth in this report, an excellent opportunity is offered for some of our local Nimrods to try a bit of big-game hunting.

A Correction Apropos Lions: We have received a request to make a correction regarding the title of a photograph of a lion appearing in our March number, which was to the effect that it had been taken by Mr. D'Arcy Weatherbe in Kenya. Mr. Weatherhe writes "It is true that I do shoot lions in Africa, and in April and May this year killed four and regret to say lost in addition two wounded, in the Blue Nile country, but the one reproduced in your journal was taken by me at Whipsnade It is one of the two lions which killed a man there in June, I think, this year." Our apologies to Mr. Weatherhe, but we must have heen misinformed, or had gained a wrong impression somehow.

FISHING

War on Sharks: One of the results of the great London to Melbourne air race, which took place during the latter part of October, is that an intensive war against the enormous numhers of sharks that infest Timor Sea hetween the islands of Sandalwood, Flores and Timor in the Netherlands Indies, Malaya, has been decided upon, British, Dutch and Portuguese warships to cooperate in an effort permanently to drive the monsters away from their breeding ground, said a Reuter message from London, dated November 10. Forty-six Timer rajasses, or native hoats are to assist in the attack upon these savage "tigers of the sea," the message goes on to say, while aerial and marine torpedoes as well as depth bombs will be used in the war.

It is rather difficult to credit the seriousness of a proposal like this, as we can imagine the Utter futility of any such effort to rid even a comparatively small sea of its denizens by the means suggested, though doubtless the latter would account for a few of the monsters if the attack were well directed. Incidentally, we believe that shark fishing for the sake of their fins for consumpt jell in China, where they are considered a delicacy, is one of the regular industrics of certain areas in the Malayen Archipelago.

A. DE C S.