SEA-FOWL.] 



SPIGOTING, 



[sEA-rOWL. 



sea-coast, and obliged to put up 'with such 

 diet as it can find there, its flesh becomes 

 strong and unsavoury. In former times, the 

 curlew enjoyed a high reputation, as the old 

 proverb tells us : — 



" A curlew, be she white, or be she black, 

 She carries twelvepence on her back." 



"We have already observed that this bird is 

 shy and suspicious, and very difficult to be 

 approached with the gun and dog. The only 

 chance is to steal a march upon it, by getting 

 round some hill, or elevated piece of ground. 

 To bring it down requires rather heavy shot ; 

 such as No. 3 and No. 2. 



In some districts of Ireland, and in the 

 boggy moor-grounds in all the counties of 

 Yorkshire, Durham, Cumberland, Westmore- 

 land, and Northumberland, the curlew is found 

 in considerable numbers ; but as it tries to de- 

 ceive the sportsman as the plover does, the 

 unwary are often cheated out of their antici- 

 pated sport by it. The only way of getting 

 near it, as we have said, is to take the ad- 

 vantage of some cover — a hill, a wall, a bush, 

 or something of the kind : but even with all 

 or any of these screens or aids, it is often sur- 

 prising to witness with what keenness of sight 

 it will espy an enemy, and how rapidly it 

 will wheel round and get out of the reach of 

 his weapon. What we now state has reference 

 to the birds in the moors and spongy grounds, 

 where, during the summer months, they have 



taken up their habitat for greater safety during 

 the process of incubation. They are more 

 easily approached when they frequent the sea- 

 shore in winter. When they are pursued in 

 the moors, dogs are useless ; nay, worse than 

 useless, as they disturb the birds long before 

 the sportsman himself makes any impression 

 upon them. In curlew shooting by the sea- 

 side, dogs are entirely unnecessary. 



Punt-shooting for this bird by the sea-vside 

 is sometimes followed, and has its share of ex- 

 citement. It is pursued in autumn, when 

 the birds assemble in large numbers, and 

 roost in some favourite localities, not far dis- 

 tant from each other. These spots require to 

 be well known by the shooters previous to 

 their operations. When they are approached 

 by means of a punt or boat, it should be done 

 in fine frosty weather, and just after or before 

 daybreak. The party should conceal them- 

 selves by stooping or lying down in the punt, 

 and then, when within range, a raking fire 

 from each gunner should be made. Some- 

 times a good bag of birds is obtained in this 

 way. 



Besides the curlew proper, there is a species 

 called the little czcrlew, which afibrds some 

 sport. It is found in considerable numbers on 

 the Essex coast, and in some parts of South 

 Wales. Colonel Hawker says, Langston 

 Harbour, in the Poole district, and Eomney 

 Marsh, yield them in abundance ; and, there- 

 fore, afford good sport. 



CHAPTER XII. 



SEA-FOWL SHOOTING. 



Sea-fowl shooting is attended with little 

 profit to the sportsman beyond what it adds 

 to his health, in the air and exercise which it 

 calls him forth to enjoy. As there are many, 

 however, who take great delight in its pursuit, 

 who love to hear the report of their ibwling- 

 pieces awakening the echoes of the crags and 

 cliffs that rear their rugged forms as guardians 

 «^78 



of the land, against the inroads of the waters 

 of the great deep, we have deemed it worthy 

 of introduction into these pages. It has not 

 much to recommend it in the way of supply- 

 ing the table with something ^oof/; but it has 

 associated with it much that is grand and sub- 

 lime. There is the sea, upon which time, that 

 touches everything else, makes no impression, 



