42 SEAFOWL SHOOTING SKETCHES. 



About 3 15, day began to dawn, and we got in a stranded punt, 

 from where we could hear the birds calling- all around. A sudden 

 heavy shower coming- on made us decamp for shelter to the 

 hedges, where we managed to keep pretty dry. At length the 

 weather cleared up, and we again proceeded to the shore, where I 

 succeeded in stopping a ring dotterel with my first shot of the 

 season. The weather again appearing threatening, I sought cover 

 in the cockpit of a smack lying ashore. 



I had scarcely ensconced myself when "mark " from my "com- 

 panion put me on the " qui vive." A couple of curlews were 

 coming straight on. As they passed I saluted the first, and down 

 he fell in a heap on the mud. I swung round and blazed at the 

 other, but the topping lift of the boat baulked me, and the shot 

 was somewhat behind, which was a pity, as the bird picked up was 

 the finest curlew I have ever shot, and the other appeared as big. 



Walking along the shore, a lot of purres flew over, but, though 

 duly fired at, they all declined the invitation to stay. Scarcely 

 was the cartridge replaced when a lot more whirled by, leaving 

 three of their number behind. Then followed an easy shot at a 

 ring dotterel, which was missed. I had a long stalk after a couple 

 of curlews, one of which seemed to go away a little heavier after 

 having had a couple of barrels emptied for his benefit at long 

 range. B. and S. came along the shore, and, taking their stand 

 near a steamboat lying on the beach, soon were blazing away. 

 Once I heard four barrels go, and " That did him," said one, 

 "Pick that bird up, will you?" to a boatman. It afterwards 

 proved to be a red shank, or pool snipe. 



H. fired several shots, but did very poorly. He was using a 

 long single heavy muzzle-loader, and it was rather awkward for 

 him. While this was going on I sat on a stone, and, notwith- 

 standing the sandwich I had eaten previous to turning out, I began 

 to feel so hungry that I took out one of the purres, and actually 

 devoured the best part of it raw. I must say that it took away the 

 unpleasant sense of faintness completely, and I shall never hesitate 

 to do the like again under similar circumstances. Of course, it 

 goes without saying that we all ate a good breakfast afterwards. 



About 10 o'clock the flood made, and we journeyed down to the 

 boat. Having a fair wind, we hoisted the sail, my brother took 

 the helm, and we were soon on our way home. There was very 

 little to be done. We had a few shots, but only bagged a couple 

 of birds, one of which I dropped as it rose from a drain, jumping 

 'ashore for it and again aboard while the boat was under weigh. 



H. got a couple of birds, B. a couple, and my brother one. We 

 saw a lot of curlews, a heron, and a few purres and lapwings, but 

 no ducks, as the latter are very scarce in August ; in fact, all 

 kinds of birds were rather less in number than usual. This may 



