GULLS HARES. 203 



GULLS. 



There are thirteen sorts of gulls ; and as these are 

 birds which no one would ever think of dressing, it 

 is not generally known, that, although scarcely eat- 

 able in any other way, they make an excellent sub- 

 stitute of giblet soup : for this purpose their skins 

 must be taken off. 



If you shoot a gull, let him lie, and the others 

 will keep flying about the place. You will always 

 observe that gulls, terns 9 or sea swallows *, &c. con- 

 trive ivface you in hovering round; knowing that 

 they are almost impenetrable when in this direction ; 

 prefer therefore shooting at them in any other, as 

 you will then have more chance of bringing them 

 down, although at three times the distance. 



HARES. 



Always endeavour to shoot a hare crossing, and 

 consider the head as your object. Withhold shooting 

 at her when coming to you, until she is very close, or. 

 her skull will act as a shield against your charge. 



If a hare canters past, and you are behind a hedge 

 at feeding time, she will often stop, and sit up if 

 you whistle. This I name to facilitate a shot for a 

 schoolboy. 



Of these there are two sorts ; the COMMON (Lepus 



* These birds breed by thousands on the large tract of shingle, 

 by Dungeness and Lydd, where they are called kipps. Their 

 eggs are sold in great numbers among those of the greenplover 

 or peewit. 



