166 THE WILD-FOWLER. 



that can be had : the birds are then so closely packed together, that 

 very large numbers may be killed at a shot. 



Any one accustomed to the navigation of large rivers by night, 

 knows, that during a breeze, the ripple darkens the surface of the 

 water, where deep, or clear of growing sea-weeds ; the oozes also 

 look very black by night ; but the shallows show a silvery whiteness : 

 and, as the tide gradually flows over the ooze, and around the legs 

 of the birds, though in total obscurity until the tide reached them, 

 they are then visibly exposed as so many live, dark objects, on the 

 " white water " as it is termed by wild-fowl shooters. It then be- 

 comes the punter's duty to wait, in the deep or dark water, until ho 

 thinks there is sufficient depth beneath the white surface to enable 

 him to approach, with his punt, within range of the birds. 



This is the perfection of the art of night-punting ; and, so white 

 does the water show on the black ooze, on first covering it, that birds 

 may sometimes be distinctly seen within range, though there be no 

 moon at all : but, in absence of the moon, there must be very bright 

 starlight ; and on such nights, none but experienced punters stand the 

 remotest chance of success. They are first attracted near the spot 

 by the voices of the birds ; and, after waiting until the tide reveals 

 the secret of their whereabouts by flowing around them, the fowler 

 cautiously approaches. 



During starlight, when there is no moon, the punter shoots directly 

 he is able to distinguish the birds : for they cannot be seen, out of 

 range, on such nights ; the punter has, therefore, to use great skill 

 and vigilance in the nightly diversion, under any but a moonlight 

 sky. 



Colonel Hawker speaks of bright starlight as " best of all" for 

 punting ; but my own experience teaches me differently. Stars alone 

 do not give sufficient light ; and it is only by the merest chance that 

 the punter is enabled to make a good shot by such a light. I am, 

 therefore, disposed to prefer moonlight ; and the brighter the moon, 

 in my opinion, the better is the punter's chance, especially with 

 a gentle breeze sufficient to ripple the deep water. 



Another opportunity for night-punting is at the " ground-ebb" 

 i. e.j just as the tide is leaving the mud, when the shallow water 

 looks white in the breeze, whilst the deep is dark. But, as a rule, it 

 is not a wise plan to go on a punting excursion by night, on an ebb- 

 tide. There is so much risk of being left on the mud by the receding 

 waters, that, unless the punter is uncommonly well acquainted with 



