230 THE HIVE OF THE BEE-HUNTER. 



we have killed between us nearly thirty birds. With 

 old bunters the average is always more, and a whole 

 night's labor, if successful, is often rewarded with a 

 round hundred. 



Practice and experience, as a matter of course, have 

 much to do with success in this sport, but less than in 

 any other ; for we have known tyros, on one or two occa- 

 sions, to do very well with clubs; while the negroes 

 have thrashed them down by '' baskets-full " with whips 

 made of bundles of young cane, the birds being so thick 

 that some could be brought down even in this way, while 

 endeavoring, in their confusion, to get out of the glare 

 of the torch. 



This fact, and the quantity of birds killed, attest to 

 the extraordinary numbers that inhabit this particular 

 section of country. 



Let the birds, however, be less numerous than we 

 have described, and they are on some days more plenti- 

 ful than on others, and one who is a good shot, in the or- 

 dinary way of hunting the bird, has only to overcome his 

 astonishment, and we will add, horror, at the mode in 

 which he sees his favorite game killed, to be a perfect 

 master of woodcock fire-hunting under all circumstances. 

 It is common with those who are fond of sport, and 

 have some sentiment about them, never to fire until the 

 bird rises, and then to bring down a bird with each 

 barrel. s 



This requires quick shooting, as the torch only sheds 



