496 THE FOWLER IN IRELAND. 



together with the fowlers, they are well aware 

 require no protection. 



Those who insist upon a universal close time to 

 suit their interests, such as the inland decoy-owners 

 and marsh-shooters, do not know, or will not con- 

 sider, that March ist, or even March i5th, is most 

 unreasonable with regard to the coast-shooters, who 

 depend upon Brent and Wigeon for a living two 

 species that require no looking after. Wigeon can 

 often be shot on the coast in mild seasons up to 

 as late as the end of March. These non-breeders 

 should surely, therefore, be thrown open to the 

 gunners, and of great benefit such permission would 

 be to them, as well as to the decoy-owners near the 

 sea. A close time, as dates must be named, from 

 March 25th for, at all events, Brent and Wigeon 

 I will not now allude to other non-breeders 

 all other birds from March ist would please most 

 people and harm none. These two species would 

 satisfy the coast men, for they can kill few others 

 after March ist. 



As to dealers confusing two such well-known 

 species as Brent and Wigeon with other fowl, it is 

 unlikely ; there is no such difficulty about Grouse, 

 Pheasants, or Partridges. 



In Holland they have different close time for 

 Ducks and other wildfowl, and in Canada for various 

 kinds of Ducks. 



As to the Diving Ducks, they most rarely nest 

 with us, some of them never, and, with Brent and 

 Wigeon, require no protection ; but they are, how- 

 ever, rarely shot, as they are for the most part 

 worthless, and too wary to waste time over. 



