218 WILD-FOWL SHOOTING 



away, but he instantly secured it, and, standing over them 

 both, seemed to cogitate for a moment ; then, although on 

 any other occasion he never ruffles a feather, deliberately 

 killed one, brought over the other, and then returned for 

 the dead bird. 



The only other essential to the sportsman is a glass. 

 A pocket telescope that will command two or three miles 

 will be generally found quite large enough. 



Having now equipped our wild-fowl shooter, we will 

 again bring him to the shore. His first object should be 

 to see his game without being seen himself, even if they 

 are at too great a distance to show signs of alarm. To 

 effect this, he must creep cautiously forward to the first 

 point that will command a view of the shore for some 

 distance ; then, taking out his glass, he must reconnoitre 

 it by inches, noticing every tuft of grass or stone, to which 

 wild-fowl asleep often bear so close a resemblance, that, 

 except to a very quick eye, assisted by a glass, the differ- 

 ence is not perceptible. If the loch be well frequented, he 

 will most likely first discover a flock of divers, but must 

 not be in a hurry to pocket his glass, until he has tho- 

 roughly inspected the shore, in case some more desirable 



to prevent our distinguishing it at any distance, when the " gilly " at the 

 helm sung out, " I hear him ! " All eyes were strained in every direc- 

 tion, and the poor swan was at last seen rising over the billows like the 

 spirit of the tempest. There was much difficulty, and some danger, in 

 getting it safe on board, and in all probability we should n^ver have per- 

 ceived it, had it not betrayed itself by its dying song. My retriever would 

 have recovered both these birds in five minutes, and there would have 

 been no risk of his spoiling the shot beforehand. 



