202 WILD-FOWLING AFLOAT BY NIGHT 



black wastes. The case is very different, however, 

 when a few inches of water cover the oozebanks, for 

 the shallows then show in silvery whiteness, and small 

 objects become comparatively easy to outline. 



On moonlight nights you may occasionally ap- 

 proach birds on the rising tide by following the wind- 

 ings of some creek which intersects the mudbanks at 

 a convenient point ; and should you then have the 

 luck to find them massed together under the moon- 

 beams on the last uncovered patch of ooze, you may 

 have a chance of realising an ideal shot. More often 

 than not, however, circumstances are adverse. Some- 

 times, perhaps, the unfavourable direction of the 

 wind, when it blows from you towards the fowl, will 

 enable them to discover your presence by ' scenting ' 

 you, 1 and at other times it may happen that the inter- 

 vention of a large tract of mud between you and the 

 fowl makes it impossible to approach them within 

 long range. All these points must be carefully con- 

 sidered ere the scheme of attack be finally decided 

 upon. 



Likely spots in which to find fowl at night are in 

 the vicinity of high patches of mud that are the first 

 to be exposed and the last to be covered by the tide. 



1 As to this, differences of opinion exist among the most 

 experienced wild-fowlers. ED. 



