272 BIRD-LIFE OF THE BORDERS 



giving" them a little more time, some may begin to crowd, 

 and a family-shot is the result of a little patience. If two 

 pigeons are perched a foot or two apart it is possible to 

 kill them both sitting-, by a quick right-and-left — i.e., 

 after killing number one, the second barrel is instantly 

 placed on the assumed position of number two. This is 

 sharp work, and if success is by no means certain, its 

 occasional attainment is the more gratifying'. In these 

 directions for shooting wood-pigeons, it will be observed 

 that I treat them, not as game, but as wildfowl ; for, as 

 already indicated, their nature and habits partake of 

 those of true wildfowl, and on such basis should they be 

 treated. An intrinsic charm of this pursuit consists in 

 the fact that it is virtually a minor branch of wildfowling — 

 and the only branch that can be enjoyed amidst such un- 

 wonted environment as the woods of beech and pine that 

 surround one's inland home. 



One habit of cushats is fixed and invariable — like 

 'wild-ducks and geese, they fly head to wind ; consequently 

 they must always be looked for to leeward. This habit 

 they observe equally in the strongest gale and lightest 

 breeze; but in the latter case, be it observed, their flight 

 will be exceedingly high. So long as there is the slightest 

 current of air to indicate the direction of the wind, from 

 the opposite quarter the pigeons will certainly approach, 

 and, after their preliminary circling flight, will always 

 finally alight in that direction. The position to select, 

 therefore, for shooting them at flight, is on the lee 

 side of a wood, about a gunshot from the outside, and if 

 possible, opposite to the highest deciduous trees, which 

 may happen to grow there, and towards which they are 

 most likely to direct their flight. Not only are the 

 prettiest shots obtained as the pigeons pitch downwards, 



