2 28 CATALOGUE OF BIRDS. 



acceptance some shrimps for my tea, but I didn't 

 feel like eating any. The fact was, in my innermost 

 heart I was thoroughly and completely disgusted, 

 for I saw only too plainly that in consequence of the 

 numberless punt-guns that exist in that part of the 

 world— many of the farmers indulging in the sport- 

 that the birds never get any rest ; and that now 

 they are so terrified at their appearance — with which 

 they are only too familiar — that it is quite impossible 

 to get within shot. 



I have made a g-reat digression, reader, from the 

 Hooded Crow, but I think my experience on the 

 Wash may be useful to some who may be con- 

 templating a visit with an object somewhat similar 

 to that I myself had in view ; so I give it for what 

 it is worth, and the sum total of my advice is, 

 " Don't go — at least not to that part of the Wash." 



I have stated that aquatic birds were extremely 

 wild, well for that matter, so were land birds, for 

 I found, when I confined my attention to Hoodies 

 exclusively, I had to resort to strategy to get them, 

 because I could not o-et within fair orunshot in an 

 ordinary way. 



One of the specimens was shot by means of a 

 dead calf, which I obtained from a farmer— the little 

 beast had died from some sort of ailment, and 

 consequently was worthless for human food — so 

 throwing it over a Roman Embankment — a 

 splendidly constructed bank, which the Romans 

 built, I suppose, to stave off the encroachment by 

 the sea that skirted the salt-marshes — I placed it 



