SHORE BIRDS 297 



On turning out before daylight on the first morning 

 of one of my October visits to the coast, I had in the 

 short space of half-an-hour or so before the call or, rather, 

 whistle came for breakfast the following bit of sport : 

 First, a right and left at geese (white-fronted) flying close 

 overhead in the grey light ; next, a shot at a woodcock 

 getting up 10 yards away from me in the thick marram- 

 grass ; then several snaps at the remarkably active and 

 elusive rabbits dodging away through this same thick 

 shelter ; and, finally, a long but successful stalk after a 

 godwit settled not more than 60 yards away from the 

 room in which, a few minutes later, I was busy discuss- 

 ing one of those famous, big north-country breakfasts. 



Naturally amid such surroundings the shore-shooter 

 will do well to equip himself with two or three different 

 kinds of cartridge. Thus, for example, he may take a 

 few loaded with No. I shot for the killing of any stray 

 geese or other large birds that may be encountered ; 

 other cartridges with Nos. 3 or 4 shot for ducks, curlew, 

 and the like ; whilst for knot, godwit, plover, and the 

 smaller birds Nos. 5 or 6 will answer. Gunners generally 

 carry a gun of moderate proportions when on a shore- 

 shooting expedition, a 12-bore carrying ij oz. of shot 

 usually answering most requirements of the situation. 



For the suitably clothed and fairly robust sportsman 

 there is no more health-giving pursuit than that of shore- 

 shooting. Many people are under the impression that 

 to follow this particular sport one must be endowed with 

 a cast-iron constitution and strength well-nigh super- 

 human to withstand the strain and exposure which they 

 imagine is the inseparable portion of all who venture to 

 go wild-fowling. Happily, however, one needs no lengthy 

 experience to thoroughly convince as to the fallacy of 



