88 BIRD LIFE IN ENGLAND. 



be ducks beyond doubt. Not a shade of any emotion ex- 

 hibits itself on the honest face of the boatman as he cau- 

 tiously edges his vessel down to the knot of birds that are 

 feeding amongst the masses of floating* weeds, taking care, 

 however, to keep her a point or so off them until, when 

 the suspense is at the highest, the helmsman broadens her 

 off a little, and as the birds, uneasy and at last affrighted, 

 crowd too late together before taking wing, big gun conies 

 to bear straight on the "brown of them," and the old sailor, 

 with a nod of approval, fills the sails again, bringing the 

 slain within reach of the landing-net. Those only winged 

 require some skilful manoeuvring and a cartridge apiece, 

 before they are laid beside the others under the thwarts. 



This is a very satisfactory continuation of business, but 

 there is still plenty more work on hand, so pipes are hastily 

 filled, Avhile the tide and a slant of wind drifts the boat up 

 the estuary to search for another flight of birds. By this 

 time the sun will be up, lighting with a vivid glow the red 

 sprit- sails of a convoy of barges, and dispelling the thin 

 drapery of vapour that has hitherto hidden the opposite shore, 

 which now, however, starts up into light and shadow ; w r hile 

 the water takes a new tinge from a sky of roseate pearl 

 overhead. 



A wisp of ox-birds got up, almost under the button at 

 the end of our little bowsprit, going twittering down the 

 water as though they would never stop, but we reserved our 

 powder for better game. This was not long in coming. In 

 passing the mouth of one of the tortuous watercourses, 

 draining down into our main channel, a couple of teal flew 

 within easy shot, one of them being stopped promptly, and 

 then the other. Both were speedily brought to hand by the 

 retriever we had with us, who seemed greatly to enjoy his 

 plunge overboard and the scamper over the dead weed and 

 samphire flats. At the shots, a heron rose majestically, and 

 then passed swiftly out of our range. A company of widgeon 

 also went away to open water, and a cloud of golden plover 



