SHOOTING ON THE COAST BY DAYLIGHT. 271 



the pursuit is it more essential than in this. When the surface 

 of the earth is thickly covered with snow the wild-fowl shooter's 

 dress cannot be too white ; at other times a light drab, or that nearest 

 resembling the colour of the coast where his diversions are pursued, 

 will be best. Jacket, waistcoat, cap, and trousers should all be of the 

 same colour, that no contrast may attract notice or create suspicion 

 among- the flights of wild-fowl which may be hovering in the air far 

 or near. It is always the business of the " shore-gunner " to 

 stand still and motionless as a statue, or lie down on the ground, 

 when he sees birds on the wing, which, perchance, may approach 

 him; they would purposely avoid him if he were moving : they are 

 so very keen-sighted and vigilant when high in the air, that the 

 least movement of a human object on land is quickly detected, and 

 avoided. 



When the surface of the country has long been buried in snow, it 

 is an excellent artifice on the part of the sportsman, while ranging 

 the coast, to envelope himself in a white sheet, or clothe himself from 

 head to foot in garments of spotless white ; and immediately on ob- 

 serving wild-fowl on the wing, whether near or distant, to stand per- 

 fectly still and motionless as a snow-cliff; by which means the fowler 

 escapes detection, and the birds will probably come unsuspectingly 

 within range of his gun. The whiteness of the sportsman's attire 

 being in exact accordance with the tint of the country, they do not 

 detect him until they feel the effects of the shot. 



This method of wild-fowl shooting seems also to be practised on 

 the banks of the Rhine.* 



In stormy weather, accompanied by severe frost and snow, there is 

 no lack of sport for the wild-fowl shooter on the lee coast, if a spot 

 frequented by those birds. When any are seen hovering in the air 

 near by, the best plan is whether clad in white raiment or other- 

 wise to lie flat on the beach in a motionless position, until the birds 

 are within range ; and then suddenly to rise and fire : 



" Silent upon the chilly beach we lay 

 Prone, while the drifting snow-flakes o'er us fell, 

 Like Nature's frozen tears for our misdeeds."f 



The services of a dog are indispensable for this sport, as most 



* Vide " Rambles in Germany, France, Italy, and Kussia in search of Sport," by 

 the Hon. F. St. John : A.D. 1853. 

 f " The Fowler," by Delta. 



