246 THE PEAT ISLE. 



Kested for an hour, to give the fowl time to come in 

 shore for the evening feed, and then returned over the 

 same ground. Keeper discovered, with his telescope, a 

 mallard near where the wounded one pitched. Had no 

 doubt it must be him. A very difficult approach. When 

 I neared him, found he had a couple of ducks with him, so 

 was sure it could not be my victim. In attempting to get 

 a fair sitting shot, they saw me, as the ground was bare, 

 and flew up at sixty yards. I did justice upon the polyga- 

 mous chief by killing one of his ducks. Did not obtain 

 another chance till near the end of the beat, when I saw a 

 couple of widgeon feeding in a weedy creek, and killed 

 both at one shot. Six head and a heron. 



Thursday, 27th. Clear hard frost. This morning a fine 

 fleet of dun-birds sailed into Koss-dhu Bay, the first that 

 had appeared there since the winter began. The keeper 

 and I were soon on the gui vive. They were diving 

 within a near shot, on the opposite side of the bay. When 

 I succeeded in getting within fifty yards, a piece of white 

 ice gave way under my foot. They did not see me, so 

 only ceased feeding, and paddled out into the bay. I 

 knew they would soon return, so kept my post. Unfortu- 

 nately, they neared the shore further down the bay ; and, 

 as I saw they would not move from the plentiful table that 

 had attracted them, I dodged back, and came round above. 

 Fired right and left ; a longish shot. Four lay, one only 

 wing-broken. Dick retrieved the trio, but I only got a 

 glimpse of the other close to the beach. 



We now started for Mid-Eoss. Spied a trip of five 



