WILD PIGEONS 271 



three or four times before dropping within shot. This 

 is the critical moment for the gunner, standing- grey and 

 rigid against a tree which he must resemble as closely as 

 though he formed a component part thereof. Scores of 

 keen eyes are wheeling overhead, searching out each sign 

 of danger, and the slightest movement or conspicuous 

 colour will assuredly betray him. 



There are two points in particular which are specially 

 noticeable by those scrutinising eyes, namely, the up- 

 turned human face, and the inward movement of the 

 elbows on raising the gun to fire. The birds instantly 

 detect the change of outline in the "tree," and, what 

 would have been a fair incoming shot is transformed 

 in a moment into an all-but-impossible "snap," end-on 

 through the branches. Both dangers may be avoided 

 by raising the gun vertically before one's face, just 

 before the pigeons begin to "pitch in." It is no use 

 turning round to watch birds as they circle behind. If 

 they have gone on, you are done with them ; if not, and ' 

 they continue wheeling, one's eye picks them up as soon 

 as they re-enter its radius of vision. So long as the 

 "swish, swish "of strong pinions remains audible, the 

 pigeons are, as a rule, too high — there is no greater 

 mistake than scaring them by shots at impossible heights. 

 The finest shots are when the pigeons are "pitching in," 

 lowering their flight to alight, and then it is noiseless. 

 Should some alight within shot, but in a position which 

 cannot be commanded without moving one's body, it is 

 a mistake to hurry to fire. They will not see a man, 

 though full in view, provided that he remains rigid as a 

 statue, and with his back glued to the tree. Give them 

 thirty seconds ; then you can safely look round to see 

 where two or more are sitting together, or in line ; or by 



