GOLDEN PLOVEE, CURLEW, GRAY PLOVER. 161 



On that occasion, in one afternoon, I killed sev- 

 enty-nine, ducks, brant, and Canada geese ; and 

 Phillips made a good bag the same day. It 

 sometimes falls out so that waterfowl or other 

 birds of pursuit are so numerous and act in such 

 a way that a very large number may be killed. 

 These occasions do not happen, however, very 

 often. 



After the golden plover and curlew have re- 

 mained with us some time in the spring, they are 

 no longer seen in large flocks, but are found 

 scattered and distributed over the country in 

 small companies numbering from three or four to 

 twelve. Early in the morning these companies 

 are found on the bare pastures. By eight or 

 nine in the morning they will have gone to the 

 arable land, and are following the plough in the 

 furrow. After they have partially dispersed in 

 this manner they fly very fast, and then they are 

 exceedingly good practice for the skilful shooter. 

 The man who can make nearly certain of his 

 single plover, flying swift, as they do, after the 

 large flocks have broken up and scattered, is a 

 good man at any kind of shooting. I prefer it 

 to any other kind of practice. Before shooting 

 against Abraham Kleinman for the championship 



