ON THE HIGHLAND LOCHS. 19 



should be wet through, reckless of his trouble and dis- 

 comfort if he succeed in his shot. 



I will now suppose the squire by the loch-side on a 

 fine winter morning, dressed perhaps in a flaring green 

 or black velveteen, with a Newfoundland retriever of the 

 same sable hue. He sees a flock of fowl well pitched on 

 the shore, which most likely have seen both him and his 

 dog, and are quite upon their guard. He looks round for 

 a few bushes to screen him wlien near the birds ; and then 

 with a sort of half-crouching attitude, admirably imitated 

 by his canine friend, advances upon his game. Unless 

 the place is particularly adapted for a shot, the flock have 

 probably seen him appearing and re-appearing several 

 times, and whenever he is sufficiently near to alarm them, 

 fly up together, to his no small chagrin. But should he 

 ly any chance get near enough for a shot, his dog, not 

 being thoroughly trained, will most likely either show 

 himself, or begin whimpering when his master prepares 

 to shoot, or, in short, do something which may spoil the 

 sport ; and even supposing the better alternative, that he 

 should have no dog at all, and be within shot of his game, 

 he will, in all probability, either poke his head over a bush 

 when going to fire, or make a rustling- when putting his 

 gun through it, and so lose the sitting shot. 



Now for the few hints I have to offer. It may be 

 thought that none were wanting, after the sujbgpct of 

 wild-fowl shooting has been so well and fully discussed 

 by Colonel Hawker; but I have never seen any sug- 



