310 WILDFOWL SHOOTING. 



water, or marshes, or any other point, which can in- 

 tercept the flight of the birds from their nightly feed. 

 Should their course be generally up some channel, 

 you may there anchor a boat or two, and either con- 

 ceal yourself in one of them ; or keep your station 

 for the chance of their turning the birds towards you. , 



In rough weather, you may sometimes have sport 

 for the whole day, by digging a masked intrench- 

 ment at the extreme end of some promontory, that 

 divides one well-stocked bay from another. It is im- 

 possible to direct about the tides, as in some places 

 the birds come in at low water, and the reverse at 

 others; but, as they indicate a preference to the 

 mud, by remaining there in weather when the canoes 

 and punts cannot be put off, we may infer, that 

 their leaving it proceeds from having been at first 

 disturbed. 



If the coast becomes too much frequented by 

 shooters, and you can hear of a neighbouring pond 

 or lake, take a walk to it in the course of the day, 

 and see if the birds use it at night. This you will 

 ascertain by going to the leeward side, where you 

 will most likely find some of their feathers, which 

 will have drifted to the edge of the water, and which, 

 in case other shooters may be coming to explore also, 

 you will do well to gather up or conceal. 



When evening comes, take your station at the part 

 nearest the spring which supplies the pond; or, 

 otherwise, anywhere to leeward, with a good light, 

 and there remain in ambush, with your largest gun. 



