HOW MOORED. 361 



of day, or towards dusk, anchors his " Wettar " by means 

 of pieces of string and small stones, within easy gun-shot 

 of some headland or other that the fowl are in the habit 

 of passing ; and if it blows from off the shore at the time, 

 it is all the better, because they generally fly against the 

 wind. A flotilla of six to eight "Wettar," if good of 

 their kind, and well grouped, and if there be a ripple on 

 the water, have, whilst rocking to and fro on the waves, 

 an exceedingly pretty and natural appearance ; but to me 

 a rather melancholy one, for though apparently full of 

 animation, one well knows that, as with the life-like 

 human figures in Madame Tussaud's wonderful collection, 

 they " sleep the sleep that knows no waking." 



Subsequently the fowler, who should be provided with 

 at least two guns, and, in preference, such as will carry 

 heavy charges, conceals himself on shore behind a boulder, 

 or should natural cover be wanting, he constructs a sort 

 of screen out of boughs, and there patiently awaits the 

 coming of the birds. A boat is indispensable on these 

 occasions, as well to enable the man to moor the "Wettar" 

 as to gather up the slain when the cannonade commences; 

 but it should be hidden in some neighbouring creek, so 

 as not to alarm the fowl. A second boat, to be rowed 

 or sailed to and fro in the vicinity of the ambush, to keep 

 the fowl on the move, is of great advantage. 



Usually the fowler is not kept long on the look-out. 

 So soon, indeed, as it is well day-light, or even previously, 

 the amorous notes of the male Eider, which to my ears 

 are far from unpleasing, and the wild song of the Long- 

 tailed llareld, may be heard in the offing ; and presently 

 afterwards the fowl themselves, singly or in pairs, or it 

 may be in flocks, are seen to make towards the mainland. 

 Should they sight the "Wettar," they for the most part 

 diverge from their course and "fitlla," or alight, imme- 

 diately near to or amongst them. The slaughter now 



