240 IN THE GREEN LEAF 



To and fro, quartering that rough ground in 

 all directions, works the dog with unwearied 

 patience. Then for one moment he is sta- 

 tionary. " Hi, on ! find him ! " whispers his 

 master. Once more Nip draws on, and then 

 he stops dead at a thistle clump. 



" Put him up!" and out shoots a quail that 

 drops dead to the shot. A proud and happy 

 fellow was that young shooter, for it was the 

 first one that had been shot in that part of the 

 country. " Bought wit is better than taught ;" 

 what a man gains from unpleasant experiences 

 he does not forget easily. 



"Calling" was at one time very much re- 

 sorted to by those who could do it well ; but 

 it was not the least use unless you had be- 

 come perfect through practice ; birds detect 

 false notes instantly. In the case of plover, 

 and some of the smaller waders, at times it 

 answers well ; but it is necessary to see the 

 birds that the sounds, or calls, proceed from 

 before you move on to where you suppose 

 them to be. The calls of grey plovers and 

 the golden, we have heard given with such 

 accuracy by a rough shooter, hid up in the 

 bents and shingle, that I have cautiously looked 

 for the supposed birds. 



