ON THE HIGHLAND LOCHS. 25 



reeds, and then raise his head by inches to look through 

 it for his other marks. Having seen them, he has got an 

 idea where the birds are, and will, with the utmost cau- 

 tion, endeavour to catch sight of them. I will suppose 

 him fortunate enough to do so, and that they are per- 

 fectly unconscious of his near approach. He must lower 

 his head in the same cautious manner, and look for some 

 refuge at a fair distance from the birds, through which he 

 may fire the deadly sitting shot. After crawling serpent- 

 like to this, he will again raise his head by hair-breadths, 

 and, peeping through the bush or tuft, select the greatest 

 number of birds in line ; then drawing back a little, in 

 order that his gun may be just clear of the bush for the 

 second barrel, after having fired the first through it, will 

 take sure aim at his selected victims. Should he un- 

 fortunately not find an opening to fire through, the only 

 other alternative is by almost imperceptible degrees to 

 raise his gun to the right of the bush, and close to it ; 

 but in doing this the birds are much more likely to see 

 him and take wing. Never fire over the bush, as you are 

 almost certain to be perceived whenever you raise your 

 head : more good shots are lost to an experienced hand 

 by a rapid jerk, not keeping a sufficient watch for strag- 

 glers, and over-anxiety to fire, than by any other way. 

 Having succeeded in getting the sitting shot, the fowl, 

 especially if they have not seen from whence it comes, 

 will rise perpendicularly in the air, and you are not un- 

 likely to have a chance of knocking down a couple more 



