234 REMINISCENCES OF A HUNTSMAN. 



there change. For instance, up to a given period 

 though at this moment I forget the month, the flocks, 

 with little exception, consist of the great grey goose : 

 after that the grey geese almost entirely disappear, 

 and the white-fronted goose fills their place. This 

 change, though the geese are narrowly watched, and 

 a report of their numbers frequently returned to the 

 castle, is never seen to take place ; no " flights" are 

 observed to come and go, but the flocks apparently 

 remain stationary, though the grey goose leaves 

 the ground. There have been occasional instances 

 of white geese appearing among them, to which the 

 cow-herds or farmers' men have approached so near 

 that they could be sure of the species ; but, from no 

 crafty steps having been taken to kill them, these 

 rare specimens have hitherto escaped. I have often 

 availed myself of different disguises to obtain a shot 

 at deer ; and, by dressing as a woman in a red cloak, 

 I have inspected a herd, and selected the finest buck 

 at forty yards' distance. The same herd would not 

 have let me come within a mile of them, had I been 

 in my usual attire. What then should hinder the 

 same fact applying to wild geese, when it is evident 

 that they fear not the cow-herds and shepherds, to 

 whose sight they are accustomed ? I know that one 

 excuse for not shooting at them in the most killing 

 way, is, a fear of disgusting them with, or scaring 

 them away from, their haunts. There would be 

 much in this fear, if the plan was not used in mode- 

 ration ; but a stalk at them now and then would not 

 have the dreaded effect. 



Having taken up my residence at Beacon Lodge, in 

 Hampshire, the first thing that I looked to was the 

 sport to be had in its vicinity. The late Lord Stuart 



