194 Northern Observations of Inland Birds 



farmers to shoot them, and cushat shooting is very excellent 

 sport, for it exercises one's quickness of observation and 

 one's skill in the art of woodcraft as much as any other 

 shooting I know. 



To stalk woodpigeons feeding in the fields is generally 

 impossible, for like starlings they post *' look-outs " to 

 keep watch. One has to adopt methods in accordance 

 with the immediate conditions, and as a rule there is 

 plenty of scope for exercising one's ingenuity. If one 

 can find out where they go to roost, a few birds may be 

 obtained by hiding in waiting for them, but they soon 

 become very wary, and it does not take more than one 

 or two scares to cause them permanently to forsake a 

 favourite roosting place. When waiting for birds, it will 

 be observed that immediately on aHghting they look 

 about them, keeping quite still, for a minute or so. If 

 the sportsman so much as moves a hand while the bird 

 is exercising this initial scrutiny, it is up and away ere 

 he can possibly raise gun to shoulder. After the bird 

 has alighted, therefore, it should be given fully a minute 

 to settle down, and the gun should not be raised till it 

 has lowered its head and is prepared to roost. 



These hints are given because woodpigeons are a good 

 deal too abundant in many localities, and though they do 

 a certain amount of good late in the season by destroying 

 harmful weeds, they are often very destructive in gardens 

 and to crops of all kinds earher on. 



At harvest time I have often tried to shoot ring doves 

 by hiding under a sheaf of corn in a field they habitually 

 frequented, but never with more than moderate results. 

 When making an ambush of this kind, the best plan is 

 to get two companions to accompany one to the place, 

 and having assisted in making the ambush, these two walk 

 away. Few wild birds are able to count above two, and 

 so long as two leave the place, they are satisfied that the 



