422 BIRD-LIFE OF THE BORDERS 



tions of their vast hosts as they wheeled and manoeuvred 

 in air. In roughly estimating their numbers at double 

 the quantity we had in the severe winters of 1878-9 

 and 1 880- 1, I may be suspected of exaggeration: but 

 such risk I accept. 



In spite, however, of the numbers by which we were 

 surrounded, we found it no easy matter to get near them, 

 or to lay hands on so much as a single goose. Hour 

 after hour was spent in fruitless efforts, which, up to 

 midday, were not rewarded by a shot. The tide was 

 ebb, consequently the main bodies of the geese were 

 congregated upon the dry mud, far beyond our reach. 

 There was, however, no lack of them in the deep-water 

 channels, or "guts," to which detachments of several 

 thousands were continually resorting during the intervals 

 of feeding, and where they sat in the water, splashing, 

 washing, and preening themselves. These, however, 

 proved so extremely watchful and wide-awake that, 

 though "setting" to them at least a dozen times, we 

 never succeeded in getting within fair shot. Two or 

 three times small straggling "bunches," or the fringe, so 

 to speak, of their main line fell within range ; but with 

 the enormous numbers in view, I was all anxiety to make 

 a heavy shot, and declined to accept paltry chances. 



As the day wore on and afternoon arrived with the 

 fore-peak still empty, we began to despair of getting to 

 close quarters, and I risked a long shot, which secured 

 five. After this it was a long time before we could get 

 on any sort of terms with them ; but as the flowing tide 

 gradually covered the mud-flats, we began to get in touch 

 of the main bodies of geese which had hitherto been 

 feeding on the dry, beyond our reach. 



It had become clear that nothing effective could be done 



