SUNDRY INCIDENTS OF FOWL AND FOWLING 433 



to take up positions for flight-shooting, we observed the 

 moon (full to-morrow) gradually become obscured. Ere 

 we reached our points, an almost total eclipse had com- 

 menced, which lasted for three hours : the penumbra 

 coming from the east and passing upwards across the 

 disc. During this period the moon was still faintly 

 distinguishable, a dull red circle beneath the shadow. 

 Meanwhile, we perforce lay shivering on our backs on the 

 mud, unable to see, or to find a way homewards across 

 the treacherous slake. But, curiously, never a duck 

 flew ! The preceding night they had come in force, and 

 shooting was constant : to-night we never fired or even 

 heard a distant shot. Whether the wigeon came in 

 later, we know not ; for, so soon as it became light, we 

 set off, and sat down to dinner at 10 p.m. 



To the naturalist-gunner, perhaps the most interesting 

 periods are the commencement, and then the latter end of 

 the season — say the months of October and March. In 

 autumn, birds newly arrived from the barren uninhabited 

 north are naturally less difficult of access than later on, 

 when they have taken in and digested the whole system 

 of fowling. This rule is not absolute — no rules are — still 

 there are perceptibly greater odds on the gun in autumn 

 than during the mid-winter months. Then, as winter 

 begins to merge into spring, the fowler may again hope to 

 secure a favourable chance or two, if he has the luck to 

 fall in with the passing bands of fowl which at that season 

 are gradually moving northwards. I once witnessed a 

 considerable arrival of geese (on March ist) from the 

 southward. It was shortly after daybreak, and the birds 

 were evidently tired with a long flight, for, though at the 

 harbour entrance they received several shots from the 

 "skirmishers of the coast," yet they all settled, some 500, 



2e 



