io SEAFOWL SHOOTING SKETCHES. 



man to endeavour to reach some haven, I forget the name of it, 

 but, having- grounded on the way, it was impossible to do it. 

 Taking advantage of the stoppage, we had a very enjoyable bath, 

 the water being quite warm. Here I had a double shot at an 

 oyster catcher, which I missed. I rather fancy it was while I 

 was in natural costume. Whether or not, it would not be the 

 first time. 



At any rate, having resumed our garments, and seeing a very 

 large sandbank, literally covered with birds, we rolled our 

 trousers up, and tried to stalk them. But it was useless. Hav- 

 ing at last got afloat, we resolved to return, and, passing Clee- 

 thorpes, proceeded up the Humber. I was successful in killing 

 a couple of lesser terns, and as they were the first of that variety 

 I had ever obtained, I was duly elated. My stuffer made a very 

 good job of them, but one was, unfortunately, destroyed by my 

 cat. 



I may mention that, having got my trousers wet over the knees, 

 they would not stop rolled up, but dropped down. I took no 

 further notice of them, and was frequently wading in the water 

 to the middle of the thigh. I fired at a great black-backed gull, 

 which got away, and Heywood missed a teal. A purre, which I 

 got, completed my bag, and as we were landing from the boat at 

 dusk I finished with a glorious miss at some curlews. 



Next morning I went out alone, and hiding behind the boat 

 we had been out in the day before, I managed to shoot a solitary 

 gull, and another bird. In the afternoon we returned home not 

 over-pleased with our out. I am convinced that, had we gone the 

 first week in August, or when a hard frost had tamed the birds, 

 we might have done much better. 



When near the birds on the sandbank, had we possessed the 

 rifles with which some very innocent people suppose birds are 

 shot, we might possibly have got an odd bird or so by firing 

 a ball among the lot. This practice, however, is condemned by 

 all the best authorities on the ground of scaring the birds use- 

 lessly, as unless they should be lying very close together, the 

 chances are much against any being stopped. 



