312 WILDFOWL SHOOTING. 



by the disturbance they make in the water, and they 

 will generally swim over the whole of the pond in 

 a few hours ; so that, in moonlight, you would be 

 almost sure of them. 



Should the pond be frozen over, you might some- 

 times have a very fine shot, by breaking' open a large 

 place in the ice, where they would collect together 

 for the fresh water, and most likely be accompanied 

 by duck and mallard. The chief of the shooting on 

 the ponds by night is at the dunbirds, which are 

 vulgarly called redheads ; for, with the exception of 

 the tufted and scaup duck, the other diving birds 

 prefer feeding by day. The golden-eyes and morillons 

 go out every evening to sea, where, until the winter 

 is nearly over, they will remain all night ; though 

 perhaps tossed on billows in the most tempestuous 

 weather. 



as he flies up, which he will do on coming up again, and seeing 

 you suddenly appear so close. There are various contrivances for 

 shooting birds that dive, such as cormorants, grebes, &c. : some 

 fire the moment they come up 5 others shoot under them, or 

 under their heads ; and many hide the flash, by putting a shield 

 of pasteboard before, or a cover over, the gunlock ; but, after all, 

 the best recipe is to have a good detonating gun. 



