40 SEAFOWL SHOOTING SKETCHES. 



well. A couple of curlews now flew over, but out of range, as 

 usual. Nothing- appeared in sight for a long time. At length, 

 however, a sandpiper got up and fell again. I had the pleasure ( ?) 

 of wading for it. It afterwards proved to be in fine condition, 

 having a layer of fat a quarter of an inch thick on the breast; 

 this was my last shot. 



A lot of lapwings were coming over very nicely, when a man on 

 the bank fired, of course, without any result, except turning them 

 in another direction. We had a favourable wind, and as it was get- 

 ting dusk we decided to sail back without waiting for the flood. 

 We managed very well until we got nearly home, when we 

 grounded, and had to wait a short time for the tide, which soon 

 floated us, and arrived back well pleased with the afternoon's 

 sport. 



A few days afterwards a singular incident occurred to me. I 

 sprang a sandpiper from the brook, and fired, missing it, but a 

 pied wagtail rising at the same moment was struck by the centre 

 of the charge, and dropped instantly, almost shattered. 



Accompanied by a friend, I went down in the boat on the boxing 

 day following, but only got one shot, a lucky one though. There 

 was little to be seen, and we were slowly dropping down quite 

 disconsolate when a bird, which we took to be a curlew, dropped 

 on the south bank. Pulling towards it, to our disgust, the boat 

 grounded in very shallow water. Instantly I jumped overboard, 

 and splashed towards the side. Steadying myself for a long 

 sitting shot, the bird got up just as I was pulling the trigger. In- 

 stinctively I threw the muzzle up, and fancying the bird was hit, 

 tried to follow it, but the water was too deep. I got in the boat, 

 and we pushed her off the sand, and then to the bank, where I 

 landed, and after a severe chase captured the bird, which was 

 winged only. It was a black tailed godwit, " Limosa melanura," 

 rather a rare bird in these parts, and a very decent addition to my 

 collection. 



I was, therefore, very well satisfied, even though it was the only 

 shot I fired. 



