214 WILD-FOWL SHOOTING 



can readily manage ; it must fit you to a nicety, and carry 

 from two to three ounces of No. 3 or 4 shot, (I prefer 

 the latter,) both very strong and regularly distributed. 

 Its elevation must be most true; if anything, over-ele- 

 vated. As to length of barrel, calibre, &c., every man 

 will, of course, suit his own fancy, and give his directions 

 accordingly. Should he not be au fait at this, by explain- 

 ing the sort of gun he wants to any of the first-rate 

 makers, he need not doubt their giving him satisfaction. 

 Unless for geese or hoopers,* (when, -of course, I would 

 sacrifice my chance at other fowl,) I never use any shot 

 larger than No. 4, as a fair chance at a small bird like a 

 teal might be missed with larger ; and a man should not 



* Except in the hardest winters, geese of any description seldom pitch 

 upon the Highland lochs. 



In the winter 1841, some nocks of the bean-goose appeared on Loch 

 Lomond during the first storm. They remained about a week, and, when 

 seen, were always feeding on the shores. Three of them my brother 

 killed. I never knew this to occur before ; for although wild-geese have 

 occasionally pitched for a short time, they always chose the deep inac- 

 cessible places of the loch, and, after resting for a few hours, took their 

 departure without attempting to feed. I went to the loch shortly after 

 the geese had left it, but the thaw unfortunately began the next day ; and 

 of the five days I remained, it rained nearly three. I, however, bagged 

 thirty-eight head of wild-fowl, mallards, golden-eyes, dun-birds, widgeon 

 tufted and scaup-ducks my charge never exceeding If oz. of shot. It 

 was a curious fact that there were fewer hoopers that winter than in many 

 of far less severity. Scarcely any came to Loch Lomond at all, and I did 

 not see one, though I looked for them in all their most likely haunts. 

 During the severe winter of 1837-8, not one wild-goose of any description 

 was seen, although there were numbers of the common wild-swan, and a 

 few of the black species, one of which was shot : so much for the uncertain 

 movements of wild-fowl. 



