FIRING A SHOT AT FOWL. 355 



islands and promontories. A company of Wigeon 

 near the edge of a bank, some walking upon it to 

 feed at once, others stepping after them by twos and 

 threes, some in the water near, and all with their 

 heads towards the first that landed, is an admirable 

 chance, and a very sure one. This behaviour is 

 not like the usual caution they show before feeding, 

 of looking round hesitatingly. It is certain evidence 

 that they are hungry and tired, more so were they 

 seen to alight ; and if you have patience to wait, they 

 will surely get well together within easy shot. A 

 mistake when attempting fowl is a serious calamity, 

 and may lose you the worth of a day's shooting on 

 land, though of the best. Be deliberate in all your 

 movements, without being any way slow. Once in 

 shot your action should be quick as thought, or 

 maybe all your trouble counts at nought. Deer- 

 stalking is a similar sport, and bears comparison to 

 fowling in many ways. The care, the absolute 

 silence, the long and oftentimes tedious circuit ere 

 you obtain your first object " within range," to say 

 nothing of even then gaining the prize you have 

 toiled for, or losing it. As in stalking, so in fowl- 

 ing, it goes to the heart, after a long chase, to 

 see the object of pursuit depart scathless, through 

 the neglect of one out of many necessary precau- 

 tions. 



When within range of fowl never hesitate, but at 

 once make up your mind how it is best to take 

 them, and then fire. Of course there are exceptions 

 to every rule. The birds may be tamely swimming 

 together, or have their heads down, or you may 

 wish to let them lift. But as a rule they do not once 



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