56 SEAFOWL SHOOTING SKETCHES. 



to be a greenshank. Then we grot in the boat and pulled lower 

 down. At the Naze we again landed on the south side, and 

 walked over the marsh. A shank got up, an easy shot, but 

 having- the sun in our faces we each missed it with both barrels. 



Again we re-embarked, and shortly after we picked up a pas- 

 senger who wanted ferrying- across. As we were approaching 

 the north side we espied several birds stood on the side. All flew 

 away but one, which C. quickly rolled over, and a shank passing 

 behind him he quickly turned round and dropped it. We picked 

 it up and landed our passenger. Then I went for the first bird, 

 which proved to be a bar-tailed godwit. Crossing the river, we 

 anchored and partook of some refreshment. 



When this important duty was concluded, we set off in different 

 directions. I got behind a lamp "post" and dropped a couple 

 of gulls right and left. One of the birds the wind brought to my 

 side of the water, and in drawing it to the edge with a piece of 

 wood slipped in with one leg ! The bird was a mature black- 

 headed gull in winter plumage, and a good specimen. Returning 

 to the boat, I took off my legging, boot, and sock, and wringing 

 out the water from the first and last, spread them on one of the 

 thofts to dry. 



In an hour or so the flood made, and after waiting a few mnutes 

 for the water to deepen, we pulled off up the river. My companion 

 dropped a fine black-headed gull, which we got, and near Freckle- 

 ton Bank missed a nice chance at some dunlin. We saw hundreds 

 of lapwings and plovers, and plenty of curlews also. I called several 

 lapwings overhead, and missed a fair chance at one. Nearer 

 home, I got a couple of dunlin from a flock, and C. got a curlew- 

 sandpiper. We had hoped to get a few little stints, but were not 

 successful. 



We had a beautiful day and good sport, arriving at the old dock 

 at one p.m. I ought to say we fired a good many shots, and 

 might have killed many more birds if our " form " had been 

 good. 



