WILD FOWL ON AN ESTUARY WINTER 271 



usually truant from some ornamental pond, or 

 small lake, where his semi-domesticated kindred 

 are sailing among the water-lilies. There is always 

 the benefit of the doubt, as a flock in a truly 

 wild state occasionally makes its appearance. 

 Another visitor in hard winters is distinguished 

 from "the mute" as "the whooper," because of 

 the noise he makes. 



The little punt rose scarcely above the water, 

 and carried a long raking gun, which took in a 

 pound and a half of lead. Altogether it was 

 admirably fitted for its mission as scourge of 

 the estuary. 



The modus operandi was as follows : A moon- 

 light night was chosen, with a flowing tide. 

 Like the ghost or shadow it was, the punt glided 

 through the water, and lingered opposite the mud 

 flats, or mussel-scaups exposed by the tide. As the 

 flow covered their feeding-ground, the ducks were 

 lifted up, and floated away. When the vast flocks, 

 often of many hundreds, crossed the track of 

 moonlight, the time for action had arrived. The 

 big gun was brought to bear, with disastrous 

 consequences. 



It was sheer butchery ; not so much because 

 of those that were killed," though that was whole- 



