238 SHOOTING THE COOT, THE OXBIRD, &C. 



vidual you womided. In working up to curlews, 

 contrive to keep close to the land, and well under 

 cover of it. 



THE COOT. 



As this bird is not worth having when dead, it 

 will not be required that we give instructions for 

 shooting it. His cliief value is on ponds, where he 

 is veiy attractive to all kinds of wild fowl. The 

 reason is said to be, that he acts as a centinel while 

 the other birds sleep — their custom in mid-day. 



THE OXBIRD. 



The Oxbirds frequent many of the coasts of 

 England in perfect clouds at certain seasons of the 

 winter, so to speak, particularly during w^hite 

 frosts. In August, when it is stormy, they are very 

 tame, not at all taldng offence if you kill a dozen or 

 so of their company. These, the gallant colonel 

 already quoted says, are no doubt young birds. This 

 is capital sport for a schoolboy, he adds ; because, if 

 one or tw^o are " stopped," the rest are sure to pitch 

 do^ai with or near them, as thick as they can possibly 

 stow together. Then is your time, oh ingenuous 

 youth ! " have at the browi^i of 'em." 



THE REDWING. 



This bird only comes among us in winter ; and, 

 unless the weather be hard, he is a particularly shy 

 guest. When a flock of redwings alight, they have 



