174 THE WILD-FOWLER. 



put my companions so completely off their guard, and made them 

 think the dark object could be nothing* else than a company of wild- 

 fowl ; consequently they were eager to shoot and secure as many as 

 they could.* 



It is very desirable that punters, on going out in dark nights, 

 should hold a consultation before embarking, and each decide on the 

 particular locality he will proceed to; by which means many accidents 

 might be avoided. 



One or two instances have come under my notice, in which night- 

 puntmen have felt so jealous of a " gentleman gunner," as they term 

 him, as to endeavour to frighten him from pursuing his sport at 

 night, by pretending that he was going in a wrong direction at the 

 birds, and was in danger of being shot. But such tricks are easily 

 detected by anyone understanding the pursuit, and the jealous feeling 

 of those who would gladly persuade him to keep at home at night, 

 that they may have the better chance of success themselves cannot 

 always be concealed. 



A tyro desirous of learning the mysteries of night-punting should 

 go out frequently in company with an experienced hand, though it 

 may be difficult, sometimes, to find one who would undertake to 

 instruct a novice : the sight and offer of silver are generally irresistible 

 with native punters, who pursue the sport as a means of maintenance. 

 When once night-punting is properly understood, there is no fear 

 of incurring risk on a moonlight night ; but the oldest and best of 

 puntmen, amongst others, incur more or less risk of another's fire 

 on dark and cloudy nights : and if the ardent wild-fowler values 

 his life and limbs, he will not grope about on dark nights in pursuit 

 of his sport. 



There can be no doubt but night-punting is an extremely hazardous 

 undertaking to the uninitiated. I remember, many years ago, two 

 accidents occurring in one season on the same river, and to men living 

 in the same parish. It was a very severe winter, and there were 

 abundance of wild-fowl ; the inviting prospects of sport had induced 

 several inexperienced individuals to provide themselves with punts 

 and guns ; and so long as they confined their operations to the sport 

 by daylight, all was well, but on venturing upon night-punting with- 

 out having first been out with those familiar with the sport, two 

 serious accidents occurred within a few weeks of each other. 



* The substance of this anecdote was published by the author in the " Sporting 

 Review," vol. xxxv., 1856. 



