130 BROADLAND SPORT 



lead past within easy range, not swerving until the gun is 

 raised or some other movement made. 



Bear in mind, however, that the shooter must take his 

 stand according to the class of fowl he more particularly 

 wishes to secure, as different varieties prefer different localities, 

 according to their species, e.g., mallard, teal, etc., prefer com- 

 paratively dry ground to widgeon and others, which revel in 

 more open, aqueous wastes. 



For a variety, the best position is some rushy promontory 

 jutting out into the bright water, or a lee shore ; for wildfowl, 

 previous to alighting, are always wont to swing round more 

 or less to leeward. Having taken a stand, one is generally 

 first put on the qui vive by the " scape " of snipe, high in 

 the air, which, as the gloaming deepens, swoop lower, and 

 a few are often secured before the regular flight of fowl 

 commences. A peculiarity of snipe may often be noticed, 

 they now and again suddenly pitch down from the air 

 like a stone thrown to one's very feet. This is really 

 astonishing, the more so to those who see it for the first 

 time. 



When snipe are occupying the attention large stands of 

 plover will most probably be also observed passing high over- 

 head, but one knows they will come lower and singly later on. 

 Teal also are early arrivals, usually dashing past with a rush, 

 reminding one of an express train ; and so rapid are they in 

 their flight that when going thus late in the evening it is 

 next to impossible to hit them. 



Mallard, after the snipe, come throughout at intervals, 

 whilst widgeon and single peewit latest of all. But, of course, 

 times and orders of arrival vary considerably according to the 

 season, state of weather and locality. 



One peculiarity is pretty sure to attract attention during 

 autumn. A drake mostly leads the trip, but in the spring 

 he politely yields his position of precedence to a (lady) 

 duck. 



The setting in of a genuine frost is intimated by the 

 green plover or lapwings, which depart to a bird towards the 



