BIRDS SHOT BY THE REV. FRANCIS GISBORNE. 1 79 



1762. Jan. 9th. I Redw. Thrush flying. •*' 



22nd. I Fid. Fare, I Bl. Bird, i Hare. 



1 6th. I Thrush, I J. Snpe. 



23rd. I Snpe., 3 Redwg. Thrs. 



25th. 9 Snpes., I Redwg. Th. 



29th. I Mallrd., i Wat. Hen catch'd unshot. 



30th. 2 Larks. 



Feb. 1st. I J. Snpe,, 2 Snpes. 



2nd. 2 J. Snpe., 3 J Snpes., I Bl. Bird. 



3rd. 6 Snpes., 2 J. Snpes., I Par., I W. C, 2 VV. Ducks. 



6ih. I Bl. Bird, I Snpe. 



8th. 2 Bl. Bird, 3 Redwg. Thr. at o. sht. 



loth. 2 Fid. Fares, 2 Larks, 7 Do. a. o. sht., 4 Bl. Birds, 



5 Snpes., 2 J. Snpes. 



nth. 2 Snpes., I Bl. Bird. 



13th. 4 Bl. Birds, 2 Fid. Fares, 4 Snpes., I J. Snpe. 



15th. 2 Par., I Bl. Bird. 



20th. 2 Larks. 

 Feb. 22nd. 2 Larks, I Bl. Bird. 

 23rd. I Crow flyg. ''' 

 25th. I Snpe., I Fid. Fare, i Redwg. Thr. N.B.-Lost 



Powder Flask. "' 



Mar. 10. 3 Snpes., I Bl. Bird, 2 Larks. 



April 1st. I J. Snpe.,'"' 2 Snpes., i Fid. Fare. 



2nd. I Redwg. Th., i Fid. Fare, I Wat. Hen., i Bl. Bird. 



In June. 5 Stares, I Wat. Hen, 7 .Sparrs., 7 Do., 8 Do., 6 Do., 



5 Do., I Pigeon, I Snpe. found dead, 7 Do. shot. 



(8) Flying. — These entries may be best understood by jcomparison with 

 Note II. Flying shots only became general with an improved gun. We 

 must bear in mind that the Rector's bag was made with the old " Brown 

 Bess." In the Badminton Vol. on shooting we find the following remarks : — 

 " It was at first thought almost an impossibility to make fatal flying shots with 

 any certainty, having regard to the construction and capacity of the earlier 

 flint fowling pieces, consequently all verbal and pictorial illustrations of shoot- 

 ing in old days represent gunner taking steady aim at motionless olijects." 

 {"Shooting, Field, and Covert," p. 13.) 



Feb. 22. — An unusual fall of snow. In many places it was 10 or 12 feet 

 deep. Nearly 50 people who were caught in the open fields and heaths lost 

 their lives in the hurricane that accompanied it. It blew down houses, trees, 

 and chimneys in great numbers. — (Belsham's " Chronology.") 



'9' Lost Powder Flask. — Not an un frequent experience in the old muzzle- 

 loading days. Some of the flasks were very interesting pieces of workmanship. 



'"' April.— Jack Snipe. — Now an illegal month in which to shoot these birds, 

 which are protected under the Wild Birds Act from i6th March to 31st July, 

 both inclusive, under the penalty of £\ for each bird for each offence. 



