ON THE HIGHLAND LOCHS. 233 



sometimes even before they can be seen; and, if care is 

 taken to make no rustling among the bushes, when they 

 are above water, you have every prospect of a good 

 chance. The smoothness of the surface and the mist 

 makes each bird appear twice as large as it is, which 

 enables you much more easily to catch sight of them 

 coming up from the dive. The mist is also an excel- 

 lent shroud if the ground is open, without a tree or 

 bush to hide behind, when the birds are above water. 



The wild-fowl shooter must never forget that the true 

 proof of his skill consists in obtaining sitting shots, and 

 stopping a number of fowl at one discharge ; and, unless 

 with divers, must not think of a flying right and left. 



As an instance of what may be done by patience and 

 caution, I may conclude this paper by mentioning that 

 the gamekeeper of a relation, having seen a flock of ducks 

 pitched upon the shore, and no way of getting near them 

 but over a bare field, crawled flat upon his face a distance 

 of three hundred yards, pushing his gun before him, not 

 daring even to raise his head, and at last got within such 

 fair distance that he stopped four with his first barrel, and 

 one with the other, securing them all. His gun was only 

 a small fowling-piece. I should add that he had been 

 trained to deer-stalking, under his father, from a boy. 



