228 SHOOTING THE DUCK AND THE GOOSE 



many subsequent occasions a similar thing happened, 

 so that it may be concluded that widgeon migrate 

 early in the night and arrive at their destination 

 during daylight. The migratory habits of brent 

 resemble those of widgeon, but the brent do not 

 seem to travel so much by night. Widgeon usually 

 remained in the Lauwers Zee and at Holwerd for a 

 fortnight or three weeks, and sometimes even for a 

 month. 



The excellence of the sport which is obtainable 

 on these coasts with the punt-gun may be gathered 

 from the following details taken from Captain Gould's 

 ' Wild-Fowl Diary ' : 



In 1894-95 his total bag was 1,453 head, com- 

 prising : wild ducks, 52 ; widgeon, 1,119; tea ^ J 97 > 

 pintails, 29; grey geese, 38 ; black geese, 14; and 

 goosanders, 4. The four best days were from 

 October 2 to October 6, when he fired six shots and 

 bagged 315 widgeon. 



In 1897-98 the bag was 1,808 fowl. He was 

 afloat on forty-three days and fired 67 shots, the 

 best shot being 121 widgeon, on November 4, in 

 the Lauwers Zee. 



The following season, although the total did not 

 exceed 1,478, he obtained some of the most remark- 



