228 ROOK. 



\ 



On getting nearer, you will see the main body of 

 the willocks and puffins standing, like ranks of soldiers, 

 along the chalky chasms, but at such a height, as not 

 only to be out of shot, but indifferent to the sound of a 

 gun. Your plan, therefore, should be to let some one 

 start, so as to be on the heights by the time you have 

 arrived below. Having anchored your boat at a distance, 

 where the birds sufficiently lower their flight, make a 

 signal to the person above ; who, by letting down about 

 a hundred yards of line, with a piece of wood, a stone, 

 or a bell at the end of it, will immediately put their 

 armies to the rout, and keep them constantly pouring 

 down upon the sea. To kill these birds, you must ra- 

 ther pick your shots, and fire well before them, as they 

 fly with great rapidity, take a very hard blow, and your 

 eye is apt to be deceived in distance, after gazing on a 

 back-ground of chalk, which is, perhaps, two hundred 

 yards in height. After all, however, the rockbirds will 

 not always come near enough for you to make any ex- 

 traordinary number of shots without missing, unless 

 you descend in a basket, &c. (as I mentioned, when 

 speaking of cormorants), in the manner by which the 

 men collect their eggs, and gather samphire. 



I remember, when a party went to shoot willocks 

 near Dover, that those who were under the cliffs could 

 scarcely get a bird to fly low enough ; while one person, 

 who stood above, and fired down, very soon exhausted 

 all his ammunition, without missing a single shot. 



To take all chances at rockbirds and seafowl, with 

 a small gun, use shot No. 3, instead of- No. 7. 



ROOK. Corvus frugilegus Lefreux. 



Let those who find amusement in shooting perchers 



