394 BIRD-LIFE OF THE BORDERS 



line, the waders may thereby be driven up within shot of 

 the banks or other cover ; but it often happens that they 

 will then betake themselves to the open fields or the 

 refuge of the sand-bar, rather than incur such risks — at 

 full-sea, I have seen large ploughed fields quite "grey" 

 with godwits. The other method is to lie in wait for 

 their flights at ebb and flow, when they have more or less 

 regular lines, a knowledge of which will afford as much 

 shooting for a few minutes as a grouse-drive. They leave 

 their feeding-grounds when the flowing tide covers the 

 flats, returning as soon as the sands begin to dry again 

 at the ebb. The points they pass over in coming and 

 going to their interim resting-places are the position for 

 the gunner. This is no easy undertaking : the man 

 who succeeds has in him the elements that make a 

 craftsman. 



