THE BOOK OF MIGRATORY BIRDS 51 



interposing every object possible between the fowlers and 

 the fowl. It is becoming dangerous enough for the punt, 

 but the gaggle of brent geese are huddled together on the 

 ooze they do not like their feathers ruffled by that bitter 

 blast. Slowly the distance decreases from 150 to 120 yards ; 

 then to loo. This is the exciting time, as 70 yards is quite 

 far enough away with a dancing punt on a rolling sea. 

 The sentinels appear to be uneasy as the range lessens, and 

 at about 75 yards the flocks raise their pinions. Simulta- 

 neously the 8ft. thunderer hurls lib. of heavy shot among 

 them as they open their wings, and, quick as thought, the 

 second barrel goes in the retreating remainder, from which 

 "droppers" fall out thirteen dead and six cripples is 

 enough to go on with. The cripple-stopper accounted for 

 all but one wounded, which escaped to sea. 



There is a heavy surf on the bar, the gulls are driving 

 inshore, and the sea-horses look angry. It will be a wild 

 night. So much the better; the higher the wind, the lower 

 the birds. The powdered snow drifts sharp on the wind. 

 Heavy clouds partially blot out the moon's rays, and the 

 "whe-oh" of the wigeon has something almost eerie in it. 

 Now for the 12-bores, wire cartridges, and No. 4 shot. 

 The cutting nor'-easter makes us glad enough to crouch 

 under the old sea-wall. The wigeon call grows nearer and 

 louder ; swiftly some dark blots frame in the sky ; the guns 

 speak, and there is that heavy "splosh !" so loved of the 

 shooter. It is not a wigeon, when retrieved, but a fine 

 mallard. First blood to the gun ! Then follow in rapid 

 succession a gaggle of bean geese, too high, a leash of 

 pintail, two of which pay forfeit, and the trumpet call of 

 an invisible Hooper. Then, fast and furious, for twenty 

 minutes, teal, pintail, mallard, wigeon, and curlew 

 succeed. It is hard work to load, so rapid is the succession ; 

 and, as is always the case, a lot of unlucky shooting 

 occurs, as in the deceptive light a judgment of pace and 

 distance is all but impossible. Twenty minutes of hot 

 work, and the flight is over, ceasing as suddenly as 

 it began. 



B 2 



