THE SHELD-DUCK 181 



the one now under notice. It is conspicuous when 

 on the wing, so that there is no great difficulty in 

 picking it out from the others. The flight is some- 

 thing between that of a goose and that of a duck, 

 and one thing I know about these geese is, that they 

 travel faster than they appear to do. 



The eastern coast is frequented by them for nest- 

 ing purposes in preference to the southern. There 

 are exceptions, for one lot of sand-dunes is like 

 another, find them where you will, and in all cases 

 the coarse vegetation and the general surroundings 

 are the same ; but fowl come and go at no man's 

 bidding. In places which were suitable for the 

 Sheld-ducks they have sometimes not been met with ; 

 and in other instances, when looking out from a sea- 

 wrack hiding-place for Curlew, just as it was getting 

 light, a couple have come leisurely flapping along 

 just on the edge of the tide, and, you may be very 

 sure of it, just out of shot. You can keep still if 

 you do see them coming ; it is no use to run down 

 the beach for a shot ; they are not divers, so you 

 may lie still and bear it. Sometimes you can load 

 and fire as quick as you can, with, if you hold straight, 

 fair results ; another time you may come home after 

 hours of weary look-out, cramped and cold, to break- 

 fast, with only a Grey Plover and three or four 

 Sanderlings in your pocket. It is a game of chances, 

 and as a rule they are in favour of the bird you are 

 after, but it is a consolation to know that the fowl 

 are about somewhere. 



