WITH A STANCHION GUN. 375 



On going to either hoopers or geese he will, nine 

 times in ten, have notice by the birds themselves when 

 he is to fire, as they, previously to taking wing, draw 

 closer together and set their heads up ; so that he may 

 keep on, even if it were to within forty yards, till they 

 give the signal. And if at night (which is the only time 

 he could get so near) they were still down, he should 

 first take level ; and then, previously to drawing the 

 trigger, make some little noise, and by this means in- 

 duce them to look up, before they receive their " allow- 

 ance." By thus having their feathers open, and their 

 stretched necks for a target, he will kill at least double 

 the quantity that he would do when they were either 

 sitting close down, or flying ; as in the one position 

 their feathers would be closed, and in the other the 

 birds would be much more scattered, than when down. 

 The curres, dunbirds, &c. will generally give notice 

 likewise. The ducks and wigeon not near so well ; 

 and the teal spring instantly, without giving the least 

 notice ; so that in shooting the latter birds, fire as soon 

 as you think you can make a tolerable shot. Always, 

 however, get as near as you can. Rely on it, close 

 quarters is the grand recipe for filling the bag, at this, 

 and all other shooting. You must remember too that 

 the sea, or any water, with a large flock of birds on it, 

 deceives you extremely; insomuch that what many 

 people fancy fifty ', proves to be above a hundred yards. 

 Take a novice afloat, and the first specimen he gives 

 you of his ignorance in the art, is either to fire himself, 

 or endeavour to persuade you to fire, at birds which are 

 very far out of gunshot. 



CURRES. We will now make a few short observa- 

 tions on the birds usually killed in this way. I will 



