90 CATALOGUE OF BIRDS. 



Standing on a high sloping piece of grassy moorland, 

 and looking down this about half to threequarters of 

 a mile away we saw distinctly these two birds, who 

 weresunning themselves, — that is raisingtheir breasts 

 up sideways, and exposing them to the warmth of 

 the sun. 



Having located the birds, the next thing was to 

 get within shot of them — no easy matter in an open, 

 barren, and treeless country. However, by dint of 

 going a long circuitous route, taking advantage of 

 all undulations and going on my hands and knees 

 up a sort of rivulet course some considerable 

 distance, I at last got to a point beyond which I 

 could oret no farther, and the birds were still 



o 



80 yards off! 



What was I to do ? Well, as this particular 

 species, owing to their small wings and getting no 

 spring from their legs, are very slow in rising on the 

 wing, I thought my only chance was to jump up 

 suddenly and run as hard as I possibly could, and 

 then take my shot. This I did, and before these 

 Divers could realize their danger I had run to 

 within shot of them. They were both swimming, 

 one just a trifle in front of the other. I took a 

 quick shot, bowled one over, and waited for the 

 other to rise, but he wouldn't do anything but dive ; 

 the fact was he wouldn't desert his fallen comrade. 

 Now these birds on the wing are easy enough, but 

 when diving they go under to the flash of the gun ; 

 and I may tell you that when the bird was watching 

 me I could not kill him, as although the whole 



