WILD-GOOSE SHOOTING 177 



shots I have personally obtained in open waters I 

 attributed to the fact that the gaggle contained an 

 abnormal proportion of young birds. The juveniles, 

 as I found afterwards by the ' pick-up,' were often on 

 the outside of the main body, and, being presum- 

 ably less vigilant than the older birds, they did not 

 seem to recognise the danger until escape became 

 impossible. I have also observed that when geese 

 have pitched in open water, and whilst in the act 

 of swimming towards the flats to feed, they are often 

 assailable. By allowing the leading birds to reach 

 their feeding-ground and begin to eat, the main 

 body of the gaggle will, in their eagerness to join 

 their comrades and share in the good things they 

 have discovered, confidently follow them like sheep, 

 scarcely casting a glance to right or left to see 

 whether the coast is clear of enemies. Among other 

 instances which I could give, I recollect that one 

 January evening, at dusk, I punted close up to the 

 flank of a large gaggle, consisting of, perhaps, one or 

 two thousand birds, all swimming heedlessly up to 

 the open flats. From my recumbent position I could 

 almost distinguish the feathers of their wings and 

 breasts, and I verily believe I might have approached 

 even nearer had I desired to do so. The pick-up 

 after that shot was forty-two geese. 



K 



