380 SHOOTING WILD-SWANS 



smaller size, the whole harbour was, of course, in arms 

 with shooters, and had almost the appearance of a place 

 that was besieged. The following morning, though it 

 blew very hard, and poured with rain, every one was 

 in arms for seven of the swans that again appeared, 

 anxiously hoping that they might swim, or fly, near 

 enough for a random shot ; though the punters, from 

 drawing too much water, required at least another half 

 hour's flood before they could make the difficult attempt 

 of getting at them in open day. By having a punt 

 which drew less water than theirs, it was, therefore, my 

 lot to have the first chance, if no one fired off a gun, in 

 order to spoil the shot, which is a very common practice 

 on this, and many other coasts. I, therefore, took the 

 precaution of getting well round to windward ; and when 

 I had arrived as much to windward as one dare go to 

 wildfowl, having previously covered myself and my man 

 with clean white linen, and a white nightcap, to appear 

 the colour of the snow, we floated down among the small 

 pans of white ice that were constantly drifting to lee- 

 ward ; and, by this means, had a couple in the boat, 

 and another that afterwards dropped dead, just as the 

 other punts were coming up. This circumstance I think 

 it right to mention, in case it should hereafter be found 

 a useful recipe for getting at very wild birds, though it 

 is with reluctance that I become so much the egotist as 

 to introduce any thing that relates to my own per- 

 formance. In giving further directions about swans, 

 I must observe, that to take a sitting shot you need 

 never be hurried, as these birds never can rise above 

 the level of any swivel-gun till they have beat the water 

 for several yards, in order to get their huge bodies on 

 the wing. To shoot them flying, make all possible 



