WILD FOWL ON AN ESTUARY WINTER 273 



and becomes unworthy of a gentleman, from the 

 moment that it ceases to be a contest, on fairly 

 equal terms, between the cunning of the animal 

 and the skill of the man. 



There is something to be said for this matter-of- 

 fact puntsman, who transgresses the unwritten 

 code which he never heard of, for the sake of a 

 living ; but none for him who makes it matter 

 for silly boast. One may even be permitted to 

 question the soundness of the advice to get a lot 

 of wild fowl in a row before firing ; and always to 

 look for a sitting shot as being more certain. 

 Such advice is based on the big-bag theory, and 

 involves, in a lesser degree perhaps, the unpardon- 

 able offence charged against the punt gun, of 

 wounding as many as one kills. It seems to put 

 wild fowl outside the pale of ordinary law, as if 

 it were needless to give them the consideration 

 we pay to the winged aristocracy. Why not seek 

 a sitting shot at other birds, first of all being 

 careful to get them in a row ? Why not fire into 

 a covey of partridges, delighted if we secure four, 

 where otherwise we should only have got two? 



Of course, a good retriever may bring in the 

 severely wounded ; but what if it secured every 



one, however slightly winged ; that does not 

 18 



