282 THE WILD-FOWLER. 



regard to punting- and other aquatic shooting- ( vide ante, page 167), 

 in order that he may not be discovered by the birds. 



It will be almost a useless adventure to g-o in quest of sport on the 

 marshes by night, or, indeed, anywhere inland, unless there be a 

 pond, pool, or stream of water to assist the fowler in discovering the 

 exact spot where the birds are. 



In some places, where there may be a particular haunt or favourite 

 spot frequented by wild-fowl night after night, though on open 

 grass-lands ; if there is the smallest ambush, such as reeds, bushes, 

 sedges, or long grass within range, the midnight wild-fowl shooter 

 may be pretty certain of a shot, unless the night is very dark. He 

 should creep up to the ambuscade with all possible caution, and from 

 that position take aim. 



He must carefully observe the direction of the wind, and always 

 approach from the leewardmost available position ; unless the wind is 

 very high, in which case he may pay less regard to the position from 

 which he approaches ; as sound does not travel so accurately in strong 

 winds as in steady breezes. On calm nights he must be very 

 guarded in his movements, when within hearing of the birds. 



When wild-fowl are busily feeding, the fowler is enabled, on still 

 nights, distinctly to hear the clatter of their bills as they dabble in 

 the water \ which noise, with that of the notes of the fowl, are suffi- 

 cient to guide him. 



The midnight fowler should take careful observation, during day- 

 light, of all the rills, rivulets, and dykes which run into the main 

 lake or river, and note those in which feathers and other traces of 

 the resort of wild-ducks are found. Wherever wild-ducks discover 

 food and quietude they return again at their customary feeding- 

 hours. The sportsman should stalk cautiously up to such spots ; and 

 in open marshes, in the absence of a screen, he should erect a tem- 

 porary one, during the day-time. There are more wild-fowl killed 

 in rills, rivulets, and dykes, by the midnight shore-gunners, than 

 on any other parts of the coast. 



" Now, wand'ring by the river's winding side, 

 Its mazy course we trace, explore each creek, 

 Islet, or shelter'd cove, the wild-fowl's haunt."* 



It is the nature of wild-ducks, on arriving at their destination after 

 their evening flight from the sea-coast by night, to seek rills and dykes 



* " Fowling," a Poem, book v., p. 141. 



