WILD-FOWL SHOOTING. 191 



ing on hands and knees for, say half a mile, 

 over seaweed and sand and gravel. The result 

 of the stratagem, however, generally is that just 

 as you are bringing your gun to bear, the 

 villain curlew, who has been watching your 

 every stir for the last twenty minutes, sounds 

 the alarm, and the widgeon are up and away in 

 an instant. The grey plover a bird not so 

 good as the golden plover, but still not to be 

 despised is also an habitue of the locality. 

 The grey plover is difficult to see among the 

 stones, and the ground should be carefully 

 studied, not only with the naked eye, but, if 

 feasible, with a field-glass. The flocks or 

 stands are not so large as those of the golden 

 plover, yet you seldom find them under three 

 or four hundred in rank and file. 



To the enthusiastic wild-fowl shooter the 

 night is often a profitable and pleasant season 

 for the pursuit of sport. You must get your 

 almanac, and see that the moon will be in a 

 position to help you in a nocturnal attack on the 

 wild duck. As soon as the dusk sets in and 

 the stars creep out, and the tide appears as if to 

 snore, the wild duck come over the sea to the 



