ROOK AND PIGEON SHOOTING, ETC. 357 



of the charge, as the size of the body bears a small 

 proportion to the apparent size of the bird when 

 on the wing, it is not uncommon to see several 

 feathers cut out of the wings, and the bird fly away 

 as if unhurt. 



A 11 these birds afford amusement chiefly to school- 

 boys. The sportsman in pursuit of game does not 

 think them worthy attention ; but the golden or 

 whistling-plover, and the dottrel, which are birds 

 often met with in hilly districts, are generally con- 

 sidered as worth firing at, if they accidentally come 

 in the way, but are not worth the trouble of fol- 

 lowing. 



The Land-rail. The land-rail or corn-crake is a 

 bird of passage. It may be found with pointers 

 or spaniels early in spring, in hedges or long grass. 

 The dogs for this sport should not be staunch, such 

 as will foot the birds are best, as it is with great 

 difficulty they can be made to rise. It is only 

 during the first fortnight after their arrival that 

 they may be fairly killed in spring, after that 

 time they begin to pair. In August and Septem- 

 ber the sportsman sometimes casually meets with 

 a land- rail, while beating for other birds. 



WILD DUCK SHOOTING. 



Except during a severe frost, wild ducks are 

 seldom met with in the inland counties any where 

 but on large pools and reservoirs, where they can 

 only be approached by having recourse to some 

 stratagem, as waiting in a shed on an island or the 



