ON FOWLERS AND WILD-FOWLING. 173 



four horses has been required to remove them. 

 These birds were taken as they rose from the pond 

 by means of high nets fixed on poles. I have seen 

 enough on the wing to fill a couple of waggons. 

 As to the amount of fowl captured in various places 

 and at different times on and about the Essex 

 shores, I have information that can be relied on 

 implicitly; but if the numbers were given, I fear 

 some would only smile incredulously. Facts are, 

 however, hard to refute. Men who have studied 

 wild animals lions, tigers, and leopards in zoolo- 

 gical gardens, with iron bars between the animal 

 and themselves, have ventured to doubt the ac- 

 curate statements of that prince of hunters, Sir 

 Samuel Baker. It is high time that indoor students 

 of zoology and ornithology kept their criticisms to 

 themselves. 



Wild-fowling is, in my humble opinion, the very 

 cream of sport ; and all the money in the world will 

 not enable the sportsman to kill fowl unless he is 

 the possessor of three qualities accurate knowledge 

 of the fowl he is after, pluck, and patience. At 

 times the very patience of Job will be needed. 



On some parts of our shores the shooters or 



