SPORTSMEN, FARMERS, &C. 115 



founded on reason. I have also every 

 reason to expect that, in hard frost, when 

 the great rivers and lakes are frozen up, 

 and no waters but the small, sharp, run- 

 ning brooks are open, provided you walk 

 by the side, throwing this bright, strong 

 light on the w^iev, that all sorts of wild-fowl 

 will let you come xvithin gun-shot of them. 



The small rivulets, which are not frozen 

 up, are full of wild-fowl by night : they 

 have no other place to feed in. In soft 

 spongy places, where springs are, near to 

 woods, where you know woodcocks feed at , , 



^ Woodcocks. 



night, what reason have you to imagine 

 that, by means of this bright light, you may 

 not approach them ? The light, to a cer- 

 tainty, will shew them to you ; for, at that 

 time, feeding, they will be walking about. 

 In short, I am firmly of opinion, that, by 

 this method, you may shoot every species 

 of animals by night. Surely, the roebuck, 

 in Scotland, may, by this method, be ap- 

 proached ;— but be sure ever to observe 

 the wind. 



