124 MELTON AND HOMESPUN 



for whimbrel) was shot by myself, and, judging by its 

 halting flight, I am inclined to think it was a " pricked " 

 bird. 



Thanks to the modern reaper and self-binder the 

 stubbles on the island would hardly have harboured a 

 shrew-mouse, while the mowing machine had shorn 

 the grass and clover marshes so close that, in many 

 cases, it was easy enough to distinguish a covey of 

 partridges or a hare at a considerable distance away. 

 In such sparse cover birds could hardly be expected to 

 lie very close, even so early in the season, and the coveys 

 often took wing when still far out of range. A number 

 of these were marked down into the before-mentioned 

 roots ; some passed over to the next island, while not a 

 few sought the sanctuary afforded by the standing crops 

 of wheat, oats, and barley, a considerable acreage of 

 which had been left uncut owing to recent inclement 

 weather. 



At length, having shot the surrounding marshes, we 

 entered the turnips, and by walking the same very carefully 

 and in close order, nine and a half brace of birds and 

 seven hares were accounted for, and when a halt for lunch 

 was called, under the sheltered side of the sea-wall, the 

 aggregate bag for the morning's sport made a very fair 

 show. Not wishing to disturb the remaining portion 

 of the island, which was to be shot later in the week, we 

 divided forces after " tiffin," G. and H. going off to explore 

 the creek and saltings in an antiquated gunning-punt 

 on the off-chance of picking up a few " waders," while 

 Capt. N. and myself, accompanied by a couple of marsh- 

 men and the dogs, elected to try the fleet and dykes for 

 duck. My gallant friend and I shot eleven mallard and a 



