WILDFOWL SHOOTING. 307 



In some, though now very few, retired places, where 

 all this is not so much the case, the diversion of what 

 is called flight shooting is excellent to those who are 

 neither prepared nor disposed to follow wildfowl in a 

 more scientific manner. I shall, therefore, endeavour 

 to give a few hints on the subject. 



It is well known, that the generality of wildfowl keep 

 constantly passing in small " trips" about the dusk of 

 the evening; and that, after having collected in the 

 night, they return in a few large flocks at, or before, 

 the dawn of morning. No plan for a small gun, there- 

 fore, answers so well as to wait then patiently for them, 

 and fire as they pass to and fro. They will, at these 

 times, seldom take notice of one who stands against a 

 bush or bank, provided he remains perfectly still, is not 

 conspicuously dressed, and wears a seal's-down, or other 

 kind of cap, instead of a hat. If such places are not 

 to be found, an ambush may be easily made. Thus 

 situated, he will be able to distinguish the different 

 sorts of fowl, long before they come within shot, and 

 be struck with the wild retirement of the scene. He 

 will observe the whistle, which announces the approach 

 of wigeon the similitude to a storm of the rapid flying 

 dunbirds the shrill sounding pinions of the wild ducks 

 and the mournful notes of the plover, with the roar 

 of a bursting surge, and discordant screams of sea-fowl. 

 Flight shooting is always followed with most success 

 in very boisterous weather, provided the course of the 

 birds happens to be against the wind ; as this not only 

 obliges them tojly low, but doubles them well together. 

 You may then keep two guns employed faster than 

 yourself and a servant can load them. Never look up 

 while loading ; you can do no good by it ; and you will 



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