144 Wild Birds and their Haunts 



one of my evenings out, my bag being a quartette, whilst 

 a fifth got away with a broken wing. Dexterity, how- 

 ever, in reloading gave me this bird eventually — not a 

 bad beginning. Alarmed at the reports, a couple of ducks 

 came speeding across from my left, and the laggard of 

 the twain I commandeered. 



I then left my mate in the punt for his vigil, whilst I 

 went forward. It must have been a mile or more before 

 I came to a likely sheltered estuary covering nearly an 

 acre. Hearing ducks quacking among the reeds which 

 grew here, I managed to scramble into a dry ditch, 

 which seemed to connect with a pond, and reached 

 what was to me a favourite spot. 



I could now view a large portion of the unfrozen pool, 

 Loud quacking was going on but no ducks could be 

 seen. Presently a nice little company emerged from 

 behind some reeds. In almost breathless silence I 

 gazed upon them, anxiously hoping they would come in 

 my direction. Once they turned as if again taking to 

 the reeds, but at length the leading mallard, judging all 

 was clear, manoeuvred in a way that was soon to bring 

 his company within gunshot of the place where I was 

 lying in wait. I at once opened fire from a point where 

 I could not possibly be seen. Some of them were on 

 wing before the shot reached them, otherwise the exe- 

 cution would have been much greater. I could dis- 

 tinctly see three left behind — two stone dead, while a 

 third was making off for the reeds. Although I made a 

 nasty reload the culprit escaped. I felt very comfort- 

 able as to results so far, and essayed fortn with my spoit 

 for the next adventure, which presented itself before I 

 expected, for I had just turned to retrace my steps to- 

 wards the coast when a couple were seen passing 

 directly overhead. They were pretty high, but the moon 

 just now shone brilliantly, and, aiming well in front of 

 the birds, I lowered them both at my feet. Soon after 

 I saw, whilst keeping a sharp look-out ahead, a mass of 

 birds close to the edge of a stream leading to the sea. 

 Stopping instantly, I peered through the night to dis- 

 cover my quarry, for the shape made by the patch of 



