MOVEMENTS OF SHORE-BIRDS 107 



is, however, more particularly of the sport to be obtained on 

 such grounds I intend to speak. Roughly, our marshes may 

 be referred to as of two kinds, viz. tidal and non-tidal. The 

 former may better be termed saltings. They usually comprise 

 grass-lands which have been cut up by the sea into innumer- 

 able creeks and runners. In some parts they are called 

 "fitties," "grass-ends," **strays," and so on. The non-tidal 

 marshes are either fresh water or brackish, which is half salt. 

 In the latter case it would imply that at some previous date 

 these marshes were connected with a tidal course from the sea. 

 The general contour of such marshes is grassy, with here and 

 there "fleets" or ponds fringed with reeds and rushes, grow- 

 ing from a soft and boggy bottom. In both places the 

 methods of shooting are identical, the gunner walking up his 

 quarry. The fresh-water marshes usually afford little more 

 than wildfowl and snipe, whereas saltings are tenanted also by 

 shore-birds or waders, but are minus snipe, except on migra- 

 tion and during frosts. 



The modus operandi is to walk at right angles to the 



creeks, fleets, etc. In this way the birds are usually sprung 



well within range. When a breeze is blowing it is generally 



found better to walk down wind than up. By so doing the 



\ birds rise to head the wind, but on perceiving the gunner they 



sidle off" and aff'ord shots easier to negotiate, and certainly 



give more time to get "on." In short, they afford cross or 



I side shots and fly much steadier. Against the wind they will 



■fly straight away, and, springing at unknown moments, 



Fallow the gun a very meagre chance of killing. I think that 



fat most places walking down-wind is also the best way to 



approach snipe. Of course, duck have a keen sense of smell, 



Jbut in marshy districts the rushes and walls of the creeks 



prevent the scent of the rapidly approaching sportsman from 



' perceptibly reaching the fowl. This is, furthermore, against 



! the birds when a strong wind is blowing. I think fowl, when 



