148 THE WILD-FOWLER. 



the following- day, but go at once, if the weather be suitable. 

 There are no chances equal to those which may be had on the very 

 first arrival from distant shores, of large fiig-hts of wild-fowl. They 

 are then, g-enerally, exceeding-ly tired and hungi-y ; and lucl^y is the 

 punter who falls in with them at such a time. 



The easterly winds of November never fail to bring- numbers of 

 wild-fowl from the Netherlands to our shores ; and as soon as the 

 wind abates, and the water becomes sufficiently smooth, the sportsman 

 should launch his punt, and proceed to their haunts : when, if he under- 

 stands his business, he may be certain of success. After several days' 

 strong east wind, during- the winter months, with severe frost and 

 snow, thousands of wild-fowl throng- our northern and eastern shores, 

 and abundance of sport may be had ; but it is advisable, immediately, 

 to make use of the opportunity ; because if the wind changes to the 

 west, in all probability they will take themselves olf, and fly out to sea. 

 The remark made as to proceeding- at once and without delay to 

 the haunts of wild-fowl on their first arrival, relates more particularly 

 to public waters, such as are free to anyone. In private lakes or 

 wild-fowl preserves, it is better to allow the birds to rest undis- 

 turbed a few days, when they become reconciled to the place; and 

 thou"-h they may leave it at the hour of evening- flight, they return 

 again in the morning, sometimes bringing- hundreds of followers 

 with them. 



It would be better for the sport in general, if public waters could 

 be protected in a similar manner, so as to allow the birds to settle ; 

 but, in the absence of such protection, the first man who advances 

 upon a newly-arrived flight of wild-fowl has the best chance, and 

 this whether they be geese, ducks, widgeon, or indeed almost any 

 description of wild-fowl. 



To be successful in wild-fowl shooting, as indeed in all afi"airs of 

 life, a man must be an early riser : the best chances of all, with the 

 punt and gun, are to be met with at dawn of day ; and the same 

 observations apply to wild-fowling with the shoulder-gun on marshes 

 and freshes ; because, as the birds only go to such places at evening, 

 so they leave them at morning twilight. Everyone who desires to 

 follow up the sport effectively, should rise before daylight ; and, if a 

 punter, should proceed in his punt to the feeding-haunts of the birds, 

 taking care to place himself as much in the shade as possible. If the 

 weather be tranquil, and the surface of the water unruffled, the cautious 

 punter will, long before daybreak, be listening for the garrulous notes 



