SEAFOWL SHOOTING SKETCHES. 39 



was never identified, the verdict of the coroner's jury being 

 "Found drowned." Probably under the influence of drink, as 

 there was an empty spirit bottle lying- near him, the man had 

 strayed on the marsh, fallen in the watercourse, and, unable to 

 rise, been suffocated when the tide backed up. I am not likely to 

 forg-et that ist of August. 



One afternoon early in the following- month, I had my first out 

 of the season on the river. Accompanied by my brother Edwin 

 and his better half, the boat was launched, and ag-ainst a strong- 

 head wind pulled down the river. 



Soon after starting- 1 dropped a bird, a long- shot with the choke 

 bore gun. The other barrel was fired at another, but missed it. 

 The stricken bird lying- on a sandbank, where there was no water 

 to float the boat, I ran her on as far as I could and then jumped 

 into the water, having on a pair of long clogs, which answer 

 better than boots in keeping the feet both dry and warm (See 

 Captain Lacy's "Modern Shooter.") I got the bird and pro- 

 ceeded lower down. 



Before long a couple of young herring gulls made their ap- 

 pearance, and gently pushing the boat along we were, soon in 

 range, and both were dropped with a right and left. As before, 

 they fell on the sand, and had to be waded for. The first was 

 soon recovered, and I walked through the shallow water to the boat. 

 Unfortunately, my brother had allowed her to drift further out, and 

 not perceiving this, I was soon over the clog tops in the water. 

 Meanwhile, the other bird, which was very lively, had managed 

 to get lower down and climb up the bank. We started in pursuit, 

 and when opposite, ran the boat ashore, when the bird instantly 

 made for the water, where for some time our efforts to capture 

 it were vain. At length, managing to get near enough, I raised 

 an oar and brought the flat of the blade down on it in such a 

 manner as promptly laid it out. They were a magnificent pair of 

 birds, in good order for stuffing. 



It is not very often one can get within range of them in this 

 neighbourhood, but, doubtless, their tameness was caused by the 

 roughness of the weather, as it was blowing hard, at the time. 

 Though the boat was pitched up and down pretty considerably 

 every now and then, my sister-in-law enjoyed it very much, especi- 

 ally the shooting. This made it doubly agreeable, as it is not 

 often one of the gentler sex takes an interest in such matters, at 

 least that is my experience. 



As we rowed down stream, we noticed four small birds running 

 along the side. Getting as near as possible, one of them, a ring 

 dotterel, rose and gave me a very easy shot, which I missed. It 

 was flying slowly against the wind, and possibly I allowed too 

 much for it. With the second barrel I floored a purre, which we 

 picked up, and then a gull, flying in nice range, came to grief as 



