272 THE WILD-FOWLER. 



of the sportsman's victims fall into the water. If into shallow 

 places, the dog retrieves every bird, whether dead, winged, or 

 otherwise wounded ; but deep water is very trying, even to the best 

 of dog-s, because wounded wild-fowl, when closely pursued, very 

 frequently dive, and so lead a severe and difficult chase. 



A pocket telescope will be found of great service for this sport, 

 particularly in the locality of lochs and inland waters, where it 

 becomes necessary to stalk the birds. Having" discovered a number 

 of wild-fowl on the water, through the aid of the telescope, the sports- 

 man should keep his eye upon them a few moments if doubtful as to 

 the species ; by so doing he will soon discover what they are, 

 through one or more of the party treading the water and flapping its 

 wings j an irresistible habit of wild-fowl, especially widgeon, when 

 not suspecting danger.* 



When the frost is so severe as to interfere with the navigation of 

 tidal rivers and ports which become blockaded with ice, the shore- 

 gunner will find no difficulty in obtaining good sport. It is then an 

 easy matter for a man with tolerable endurance to kill his two and 

 three pair of duck or widgeon daily, by looking out sharply along the 

 coast or boundaries of these blockaded waters. He has only to con- 

 ceal himself behind some large piece of ice which the tide may have 

 turned up edgeways a few feet above the surface of the ground, and 

 the probability is that he will not long remain concealed ere his 

 efforts are rewarded with a shot, for the colder it is the more restless 

 are the birds, and the more indifferent they are to danger. 



At such times they are flying about in every direction ; cold and 

 hungry, eagerly searching for food and water, resting here a minute 

 and there a minute on bits of floating ice, and flying to and fro, call- 

 ing to their companions with wailing and clamorous notes. 



In the neighbourhood of high cliffs and rugged coasts the wild- 

 fowl shooter will find less difficulty in hiding himself from observa- 

 tion than when on an exposed and open coast. 



* Colquhoun says of the shore-gunner : " His first object should be to see his 

 game without being seen himself, even if they are at too great a distance to show 

 signs of alarm. To effect this he must creep cautiously forward to the first point 

 that will command a view of the shore for some distance ; then, taking out his glass, 

 he must reconnoitre it by inches, noticing every tuft of grass or stone, to which 

 wild-fowl asleep often bear so close a resemblance, that, except to a very quick eye, 

 assisted by a glass, the difference is not perceptible. If the loch be well frequented, 

 he will most likely first discover a flock of divers ; but he must not be in a hurry to 

 pocket his glass until he has thoroughly inspected the shore, in case some more 

 desirable fowl may be feeding or asleep upon it." Vide " The Moor and Loc/i." 



