GREY GEESE. 209 



of them is limited to the coast. Here, the only chance one 

 can hope to obtain of securing them are on the sand-flats ; 

 and since the spots selected are seldom or never reached hy 

 the tide, this practically amounts to saying that they never 

 offer a chance at all to the punt-gunner. I have never once 

 seen the Grey Geese alight in the water or on tidal oozes 

 where the flood-tide would set them afloat or enable a punt 

 to approach within shot. 



My brother Alfred and I have made several special efforts 

 to obtain a few shots at these birds, in order to determine 

 their species, but always in vain. On only two occasions 

 have we been within measureable distance of success. On 

 October llth, A., who has paid special attention to the Grey 

 Geese, and on whose observations many of these remarks are 

 based, lay in his punt almost within shot of some 600 ; it 

 was high tide, and the geese stood densely packed (no fowl 

 sit closer) almost in the very wash of a heavy sea that was 

 breaking along the shore. They were only separated from 

 the stanchion-gun by a narrow sand-bar 180 yards across 

 and through which ran a deep, winding channel, intersecting 

 the obstacle exactly at the point where the geese sat most 

 thickly. This channel, with its shelving banks, appeared to 

 afford an admirable means of access. But, alas ! down that 

 "gut" the tide rushed like a mill-race; once in its deep 

 and surging torrent all control of the punt would be lost ; 

 boat and men would have been swept to certain destruction 

 amidst the boiling breakers outside. A month later (Novem- 

 ber llth) I observed eleven Grey Geese near the same spot. 

 The tides being good, we awaited the flood, and set to them 

 at "full sea " ; but just as the advancing water, though a 

 mere film, reached their toes, they took wing in my limited 

 experience these birds have always shown a decided anti- 

 pathy to salt water. It being then within half an hour of 

 dusk, we waited on, and soon heard the loud wild chorus of 

 an approaching host. Presently they appeared high in the 

 clouds, and in two divisions. On nearing the sand-bar they 

 lowered their flight close to the water, and amidst a perfect 

 crash of clanging, stertorous voices, down they pitched, 

 luckily on our side of the bar. At first we thought (being 



