PLOVER SHOOTING. 209 



CHAPTER VII. 



PLOVER SHOOTING. 



FOR those who do not hunger after the destruc- 

 tion of birds brought up by hand, and who 

 prefer a chance bag procured with some 

 labour to a cartload of pheasants, plover shoot- 

 ing is an attractive sport. Unlike the pursuit 

 of the snipe, it does not require for its full 

 enjoyment the companionship of a dog. On the 

 contrary, a dog has no business to do in this 

 chase. All you require is great patience, a 

 knowledge of the flight and settlements of 

 the " stands," and an eye to take advantage of 

 every natural ambush. The plover are the 

 wariest of birds. In fine weather they are 

 almost unapproachable. You may see them, 

 with the aid of a field-glass, feeding amongst 

 the stones and heather on the side of a moun- 

 tain, but invariably in such an open space that 

 the sentinels can survey the ground thoroughly. 

 The only chance and it can only be availed 

 of early in the season, when the birds are not 

 much shot at is to have bundles of straw or 



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