112 A MEDLEY OF SPORT 



under the pale beams of the moon are as welcome to his 

 eyes as the faces of old friends. 



There is but very little use in setting out after wild- 

 fowl until an hour or so (according to distance at which 

 the grounds lie and state of tide) before dawn. Earlier 

 in the morning those of the fowl that have not flown 

 inland on the evening flight will distribute themselves 

 over the feeding grounds in such open order that a shot 

 from a swivel gun into a pack of widgeon or duck would 

 not account for more than one, or perchance a couple of 

 birds. The tide should be at half-ebb, and the moon 

 bright, but if full, or nearly so, the luminary is none the 

 worse, from the fowler's point of view, for being a little 

 cloud-flecked. The tyro big-gunner should bear in 

 mind the fact that he must always keep the head of his 

 punt pointing directly towards the moon when on the 

 look-out for fowl at night. If he attempts to " set " to 

 birds with the moon behind him they will sight him long 

 enough before he is within shot of them. 



He may hear fowl calling or feeding all round, but 

 never a one will he catch a glimpse of, unless they happen 

 to be within the moonbeams. When driven off the out- 

 lying feeding grounds by the flood tide, the birds will 

 begin to pack together on the uncovered banks lying 

 inshore. It is now that we should try a " set " to them, 

 keeping the moon ever on our bow, or if she be not in 

 evidence, we must perforce wait for the advent of dawn. 

 Some really pretty sport may at times be obtained among 

 the saltings and ooze-spits of the small tidal rivers or 



