362 DIVING POAVERS OF WATER FOWL. 



begins. Some people consider it best to fire wliilst the 

 birds are still on the wing, whilst others prefer waiting 

 until they are fairly in the water. In this case, however, 

 it should not be at the moment when they make their 

 first plunge, their bodies then being so deeply immersed 

 that little besides their heads and necks are visible, and 

 the chances of the shot taking fatal effect are, in conse- 

 quence, greatly reduced. Oddly enough, fowl, especially 

 the Long-tailed Hareld, are but little alarmed at the 

 report of the gun ; and it frequently happens that a 

 second flock makes its appearance immediately after- 

 wards. Hence the saying of the old "Skargard" 

 shooters: — "Alfogehi fdller hast i kritt-rok," the meaning 

 of which is that the Long-tailed llareld stoops best to 

 the " A\^ettar," whilst the smoke from the recent dis- 

 charge still hangs over the water. When a bird is killed, 

 it is best to pick it up at once, for if allowed to remain — 

 to say nothing of its frightening others — it may be drifted 

 by currents, or the wind, to a distance, and lost alto- 

 gether ; but if only slightly wounded, it is hardly worth 

 while sending the boat in pursuit, for the diving powers 

 of most kinds of water fowl arc such that the chase will 

 probably prove a failure. 



Calm weather, and a heavy and lowering atmosphere, 

 are most favourable for shooting fowl to the "Wettar;" 

 and if these be well placed, and birds plentiful, that man 

 must be a very bungler who does not make a good " bag." 

 It was said, indeed, of an individual residing near the 

 town of Marstrand that he had thus killed as many as 

 three hundred Eider-Ducks, besides other fowl, in the 

 course of a single season ! 



The sport in question is an exciting one ; the rather, 

 as from the many varieties of fowl frequ.enting the 

 " Skargard," one knows not what bird will next make 

 its appearance. But it has its drawbacks ; for, unless the 



