108 FORAYS AMONG SALMON AND DEER. 



though taking into consideration the number of birds 

 that went away, we had not killed as many as we might 

 have expected, or as had frequently, Alister assured 

 me, been killed on former occasions. Winter, however, 

 is a more favourable season for duck-shooting ; these 

 birds (as well as geese, and occasionally a few swans) 

 then lining the shores of the inlets and firths in vast 

 numbers, and a clever shot may then have excellent 

 sport. I was lately told by a gentleman that he had 

 known as many as forty-three wild geese killed at one 

 shot with a punt gun. But such wholesale butchery, 

 however advantageous in a mercenary view, does not 

 recommend itself to our admiration ; nor does it afford 

 that pleasing variety of incident which is the chief 

 inducement to the amateur sportsman, and which 

 may be best obtained with the common gun. 



My next is the narrative of a day's shooting along the 

 cliffs, occurring about the same time as the preceding. 



Having enjoyed some good and exciting sport on a 

 seal-shooting excursion a few years ago, though in a 

 different neighbourhood, I was very anxious to try my 

 luck again, having heard that a seal or two were 

 occasionally seen in the bay hard by. 



Alister offered to accompany me, and as the cliffs 

 were well stocked with rabbits and numbers of wild 

 rock-pigeons, which latter frequented the caves worn 

 in the rock by some volcanic agency operating untold 

 ages ago, while further on was a small heronry, we 

 armed ourselves with ammunition adapted to these 

 several varieties of game, and taking boat started in 

 quest of adventure. 



The morning was fine and sunny, the sea unruffled 

 by one breath of wind. For some time we drifted 

 about with the tide, or were propelled by two sturdy 

 Highlanders along the shore, ever and anon threading 



