22 SEAFOWL SHOOTING SKETCHES. 



lot of birds made their appearance, and I dropped three in 

 succession, two of which I picked up in the canoe. Then I 

 crossed the river (leaving- my companions, who declined to turn 

 out), shot five more birds, came back, and added another from 

 the quay wall as I went home to breakfast. After noon I went 

 out again, and sailed about in the canoe, when I shot two sand- 

 pipers and a gull. R. shot a couple of gulls and a sandpiper. 

 We only picked up one of the birds, however, as the water was 

 so rough, and we did not care to venture across. 



Next day we engaged a fresh man to accompany us in R.'s 

 new purchase, and accordingly, on the morning- after, self and 

 a clerical friend roused R. from his slumbers on the Dart at 

 four o'clock. The "captain" turned up soon after, and we set 

 out in the new boat, towing- the canoe astern. I shot a rook and 

 a couple of sandpipers, and after a pleasant sail ag-ainst a 

 stiff breeze, we arrived at our destination. 



Having- business to attend, I at once set out to walk home. 

 I dropped three birds along- the pool, but was unable to g-et them. 

 Getting- on the highway, I partook of some refreshment at an 

 inn, and then made for the river ag-ain. I stalked three large 

 g-ulls as they were basking in a pool, and got the lot. I believe 

 they were young herring gulls. Just before leaving the river 

 side I dropped another bird, but did not get it, as it floated 

 away out of reach. I concluded my out by arriving home at 

 930 a.m. 



The others got back with the tide at one p.m., having had poor 

 sport, Renshaw getting only about half-a-dozen purres. The 

 captain afterwards told me he was horrified at the way in which 

 R. and his companion (the latter a prize oarsman) had been 

 sailing in the canoe in very rough water. 



A week or so after, about half-past four in the morning, I 

 launched the canoe and proceeded to pull down the river with 

 the intention of taking a few shots and coming back with the 

 flood in the course of three or four hours. I had got about a 

 couple of miles from my starting point, when I was hailed by 

 an acquaintance on the bank, who was standing waiting for 

 birds. As he expressed a desire to accompany me, I accommo- 

 dated him with a seat in the stern, and pulled lower down the 

 river. 



Hearing some birds on the south bank, my companion volun- 

 teered to land and try to stalk them. Accordingly I put him 

 ashore, and at the same moment caught a glimpse of a curlew 

 flying over the marsh on the other side. Eventually it settled 

 near a creek. Pulling across, I gently stepped ashore and 

 planted the anchor in the sand. Then I waded up the creek, 

 stooping so as not to let anything appear above tKe surface of 

 the marsh. Having in this manner got to a turn in the creek 



