296 THE WILD-FOWLER. 



bring- no greater success than that of a well-made double-barrelled 

 gun of No. 8 or No. 10 gauge. 



This kind of wild-fowling, when the birds are moderately abund- 

 ant, is an enviable sport ; and they may be considered tolerably 

 plentiful when a sportsman is able to kill, on an average of two 

 hours' walk every morning, four or five pair a week. The sport is 

 unequalled by any with dog and gun ; but success depends mainly on 

 the time chosen for the walk. The sportsman should be on the 

 moor, of a morning, as soon as he can see an object in the air with 

 sufficient distinctness to knock it down. 



The beauty of this kind of sport is, that whilst walking the moor 

 there are also fen-birds of various species to be met with, to say 

 nothing of the numbers of snipes ; and when the sportsman has tried 

 all the ditches for wild-fowl without success, and daylight has risen 

 upon him, he need not return home with empty pockets. He 

 has nothing- to do but draw the large shot from his gun, put in 

 smaller, and go in search of snipes and plovers. 



There is no better practice for the young sportsman, nor a more 

 healthy recreation, than this. Speaking from individual experience, 

 I am well convinced that my early morning excursions at this and 

 other branches of the famous sport of wild-fowl shooting, did more 

 towards establishing my health, and giving me a sound constitution, 

 than any other pursuits of my younger days ; and although I have 

 not now so frequent opportunities as formerly, of enjoying my 

 favourite recreations, I still occasionally delight in the invigorating 

 pleasures of an early morning stroll in the fens with dog and gun, or 

 an excursion with punt and gun down certain rivers on the eastern 

 coast, where I have, truly, passed some o the happiest hours of a 

 somewhat eventful life. 



