40 DOTTEREL-SHOOTING. 



caution get within reach of the fowl in their feeding 

 places. If the game is plentiful, several dogs should 

 be employed, and a supply of guns provided ready 

 loaded, hesides a great gun, which may be fixed on a 

 stancheon in the punt : great care must be taken not to 

 overload the boat. In shooting wild-fowl, it is neces- 

 sary to fire well before the birds, taking an aim two or 

 three feet above them, being guided by practice and 

 existing circumstances. Tubs are sometimes sunk in 

 the earth by fowlers, or recesses dug in the sides of 

 hills, from which to fire ; but the best plan is for the 

 proprietors of grounds frequented by wild-fowl, to run 

 up a few sheds, where a swivel or two may be employed 

 to advantage. 



DOTTEREL-SHOOTING. 



THE stories that have been propagated of this game 

 being taken by the shooter stretching out an arm, or 

 holding out a leg, which induces the birds to make a 

 corresponding motion with their wings or legs, are 

 founded only in fable. Naturally these birds are very 

 shy, and fly off on any approach to them: but the 

 sportsmen who are the most successful with them, spring 

 the whole trip or covey purposely, once or twice, and 

 then ride round them, which makes them all huddle 

 together into a small compass. When thus induced to 

 run together, the whole may be fired at, and ten or 



