154 FIELD SHOOTING. 



sometimes get a side shot at a large, close flock, 

 and kill eight or ten with his two barrels. Some- 

 times the birds skim on not above four or five 

 feet from the ground. At other times they fly 

 pretty high, but within fair shot ; and when one 

 barrel of the gun is discharged, the whole flock 

 will come swooping down towards the earth, as 

 if the shot had killed them all. In that case it 

 is very difficult to put in the second barrel with 

 good effect. When they fly low and present side 

 shots is the most favorable time to pepper them. 



At the shooting on the pastures where the 

 birds have made their temporary home it will 

 sometimes be found that the golden plover and 

 curlew are not flying in flocks in one direction 

 in such a manner that you can select a place in 

 the line of flight. It is then best to go with a 

 horse and buggy. The horse should be a steady 

 one, so as to stand fire, and should also be capable 

 of going at a good rate, as speed is one of 

 the elements of success in driving for plover. 

 The birds will be seen flying about in various 

 directions over the wide pasture, and settled in 

 bunches on it. When put on the wing at such 

 times, they always settle in a cluster nearly close 

 together, and put up their head as though taking 



