WILDFOWL SHOOTING. 329 



for the wildfowl to smell you ; and you may, by getting 

 them directly under the light, have the most accurate 

 outline of every bird, and even distinctly see them 

 walking about, at a much greater distance than a gun 

 could do execution. From thus being on the shining 

 mud-banks, they appear quite black, except some of the 

 old cock wigeon, on the wings of which the white is 

 often plainly to be seen. 



It does not. follow, however, that nothing can be done 

 without a Lright moon. So far from it, that the old 

 Poole men, among whom there were, formerly, some of 

 the best shoulder gunners in the kingdom, prefer but 

 little moon, even for the mud. Here, by constant habit, 

 they can easily distinguish the black phalanxes of 

 wigeon from the shades on the places they frequent, 

 and particularly if they are feeding among the puddles 

 which have been left by the tide. (Speaking of what 

 the Poole harbour gunners were, I should not omit to 

 mention, that there still remains one particularly good 

 " hand," who has attended me for some years, during 

 the winter James Read, who came from Greenland, in 

 the Isle of Purbeck, and who, take him for every thing, 

 is one of the most extraordinary performers that ever 

 put an oar in salt water.) In this pursuit, and when 

 not favoured by the best of light, there are a few 

 cautions to be given to an inexperienced shooter. First, 

 to ascertain that the black patch to be seen is a flock of 

 birds, which he will do, by observing the occasional 

 change of feature in the outside of it. Secondly, on 

 approaching them, to be careful that their enormous 

 masses and tremendous noise do not deceive him in the 

 distance, and tempt him to fire out of shot. And, 



