A Sportsman at Large 57 



We got our own back, however, when roosting time arrived. 



The two principal coverts on the property were named 

 respectively, " Scratch " and " Barnet " woods. The former, 

 by far the larger, covering some forty acres ; but both were 

 frequented by vast numbers of fieldfares and redwings, 

 seeking a peaceful night's repose, but often meeting with a 

 dose of lead pills, which must have dissipated any idea they 

 may have had of such a happy consummation. By the 

 " droppings," we were able to determine the best posts to 

 take up, and so distribute our forces, that the luckless birds, 

 when harried from one resting place, would seek another, 

 only to find an equally uncongenial reception. 



These excursions were indulged in by all (The Dads as 

 keen as any), and each shot his birds sitting as they came in 

 an almost continuous stream from sunset to dark, persistently 

 perching in certain bare trees. The purist Harry, who 

 severely condemned this method as not being " cricket," 

 would take position outside the wood, where he made some 

 pretty practice at the fieldfares and redwings, which, after 

 circling round several times, would swoop down at a high 

 rate of velocity. One evening he induced me to try this 

 form of practice. I found it so exhilarating that I gave up 

 the less sportsmanlike but rather more exciting method of 

 obtaining a bag. 



Yes, exciting ! You have no idea of the thrill experienced 

 when waiting for the flocks to settle with loud " chack-chacks." 

 The breathless stalking from tree to tree, until one could 

 be pretty sure of pinking one's bird ; then the satisfaction of 

 hearing it hit the ground ; the thrusting through the dense 

 undergrowth and groping in the semi-darkness, until with 

 luck one's hands touched feather ! 



One evening I had the good fortune to be posted near a 

 high beech, which topped all the surrounding trees. Here 

 the fieldfares came in a continuous stream. I was using 

 cartridges loaded with a reduced charge of black powder 

 and Number 8 shot, pro rata. The birds came one by one to 

 a particular branch on the tree-top, and one by one I dropped 

 them, until I had two dozen and one to my credit (perhaps 

 I ought to say discredit what ?). Then I ran out of ammuni- 



