MORE ABOUT FOWLING ON LONGSHORE. 291 



morning, just as it is getting light, is a very good 

 time for trying for them in any open stream 

 running into the marshes. They are the most 

 valuable fowl, both as regards size and table 

 qualities ; and as a rule the most difficult to get, 

 for they can hardly be called sea-ducks, although 

 they go in large numbers to rest on the open sea. 

 Those at least which come to us from foreign 

 shores do so: our home-bred birds, which when 

 dead are easily picked out from the others on 

 account of their superior size, visit the open sea 

 when compelled ; the others do it continually, 

 going out to sea in the day and coming inland 

 to feed at night. The widgeon is the shore- 

 shooter's best friend, their numbers are so great ; 

 and feeding as they do on the sea grass and weed, 

 they are about when the others are not. Fowling 

 on the tide as a matter of course bags the largest 

 number; but when parties are out after widgeon, 

 the shore -shooters lay up where they think the 

 birds will come when put off the water by the 

 shot. If they know each other, they generally 

 agree to fire together if the birds come within 

 range, and divide the spoil. Beautiful birds they 



