274 BIRD-LIFE OF THE BORDERS 



ward, and on such nights are easily obtained — the more 

 so as one can move freely about (provided the underwood 

 is tolerably clear) without much risk of disturbing them. 

 But although such chance occasions afford opportunity of 

 killing considerable numbers, yet the sport is inferior 

 to that enjoyed in more moderate weather, when the 

 pigeons fly higher and more boldly, affording the 

 greatest variety of shots, together with left-barrel chances 

 in every degree of difficulty. 



Where there are several woods to which the pigeons 

 resort, a gun placed in each certainly keeps them moving" 

 about ; but it is a more deadly plan (for a single gun) to 

 send a couple of boys round to tap the trees with a stick, 

 this being sufficient to move the birds without scaring 

 them right away. 



During heavy snow, especially when the wind has 

 covered the tree-trunks with the drift, it is often difficult 

 to find sufficient concealment. I remember one night 

 in January being disappointed through this circumstance. 

 The pigeons invariably detected me too soon, and, though 

 there were many hundreds on flight, I only managed 

 to get eight. A few days afterwards, under similar 

 conditions, I tried the experiment of putting on a 

 common white nightshirt over-all, and a white flannel 

 punting-cap. This succeeded admirably ; and that even- 

 ing I got twenty-one out of a much smaller number than 

 had been seen on the previous occasion. 



There is a charm in the stillness of the wintry woods 

 as the daylight fades away, and the gloom gradually 

 deepens among the tree-trunks — hardly a sign of life 

 except little parties of chaffinches and tits flitting about 

 among the leafless branches, or the rustle of a mouse 

 among the dead leaves at one's feet. Presently a hooded 



