268 THE NEW FOREST 



fowl on the wing at once. After that, teal and 

 ducks are flighting round with the intention of 

 returning to their snug quarters, and presenting 

 rocketing shots at every height and every angle. 

 After half an hour or so, this flight ceases, and 

 the ducks sheer off to quieter quarters that they 

 know of. Some of these lay in the Forest 

 streams, and especially that stream which ran 

 from Minstead Manor through the thick enclosure 

 of Buskett's Lawn. Mr. Compton would often 

 notify me of his intention to shoot his pond, 

 and often also ask me to make one of the party. 

 I would then requisition from him one of his 

 guests, and, leaving him to shoot some of his 

 coverts until the afternoon, the pair of us would 

 proceed on a maraud down the stream, to get 

 what we could for ourselves, and to drive the 

 ducks back to the pond they came from, so that 

 the party might have a second turn at them. 

 Some of these walks were very pleasant ones. 

 I quote the result of two or three : 



1894. Dec. 3. Alone. Pheasants, 3. Rabbits, 3. Wood- 



cock, 1. Teal, 22 = 29. 



1895. Dec. 18. Alone. Teal, 14. 



1896. Dec. 11. 2 guns. Teal, 27. 



1897. Dec. 24. Alone. Pheasant, 1. Hare, 1. Rabbits, 



5. Woodcock, 1. Teal, 17 = 25. 



1898. Nov. 22. Alone. Rabbit, 1. Teal, 29 = 30. 



1899. Nov. 29. 2 guns. Rabbits, 2. Wild Fowl, 28 = 30. 



