360 SPOUTING IN BOTH HEMISPHERES. 



visible. Presently they emerged from the cover, and twelve 

 noble bustards marched in stately single file upon the open 

 plain. Our tactics now were not to make straight for the 

 game, but to drive in a sidelong direction, as though we 

 were indifferent to their presence, and yet arrive sufficiently 

 near to get a shot, at the same time concealing our persons 

 as much as possible. In fact, after having well determined 

 upon the exact direction to take, it is by far the wisest plan 

 for all the occupants of the cart to lie down on the straw, 

 totally hidden from view, until they consider that they must 

 have arrived in the immediate neighbourhood of the game, 

 which, being ascertained by a furtive glance, the sportsmen 

 jump suddenly up, and deliver their rights and lefts. 



The movement of the cart, and the shock of a sudden stop- 

 page, added to the inconvenient position of the shooter, all 

 combine very often to derange his aim, and it takes a pretty 

 straight shot and a strong charge to make sure of a bustard. 

 Another point to be observed is, that if you miss the head 

 you will never kill them when the wings are closed, and that 

 the best time to shoot them, if you have an opportunity, is at 

 the moment they are spreading their long wings preparatory 

 to a flight, and then aim immediately below the wing with 

 an ounce and a half of swan-shot, and a good charge of 

 powder in your gun. All these measures and precautions 

 were taken in the present instance, except the latter; and as 

 we neither of us had much experience in this kind of sport, 

 it was not surprising that upon finding ourselves in the 

 midst of the flock, the members of which were busily engaged 

 in breakfasting on grasshoppers, and totally regardless of our 

 presence, that we should each of us fire our two barrels from 

 about thirty yards distance at two colossal bustards, and 

 apparently with no more effect than if we had fired at an 

 elephant, as they coolly spread their wings and disappeared 

 O ver the crests of the hills. 



