30 WILD-FOWL SHOOTING 



return in the face of the shooter, who had only lain down 

 without any covering or concealment whatever: they 

 have begun diving again within thirty yards, and of 

 course given him a capital shot. I never wish for assist- 

 ance in manoeuvring for any other kind of water-fowl, 

 but these may be herded like sheep ; and, if feeding 

 on one side of a bay, you have only to conceal yourself 

 at the other, and send your man round to where they 

 are diving. They will most likely come straight towards 

 you, and, again beginning to feed, will probably every 

 five or ten minutes draw all together with their heads 

 up. Now is your time to fire, if you have the good for- 

 tune to be within shot ; but should you prefer two birds 

 in the hand to waiting for their knitting together, you 

 may have a capital right and left when they come up 

 from diving : I, however, should be loath to lose the 

 opportunity of the sitting shot. 



There are many other divers that frequent our lochs, 

 such as the tufted and scaup-ducks, &c., but they may 

 all be approached in the same way as the golden-eye and 

 morillon ; none are so shy as the former. Those that 

 feed on fish, such as the goosander, speckled diver, shel- 

 drake, &c., require rather different tactics. To get a shot 

 at any of these, you must watch which way they are feed- 

 ing, and, taking your station somewhat in advance, wait 

 until they pass you: they will not keep you long, as 

 they are very rapid in their movements. Take care that 

 the water is pretty deep where you place yourself, or 



