304 THE KEEPER'S BOOK 



way up wind, and in stormy weather fly very close to 

 the ground. If no shelter is available, the gun should 

 try to have his back to a peat stack, peat bank, or any 

 dark object, and if that is impossible his next best 

 course is to kneel on the ground and remain perfectly 

 still. Duck, when flying to the feeding-ground, shy 

 much more easily on seeing a dog or man moving about 

 than they do at the sound of the shots. In flighting, 

 one requires to keep very much on the alert with both 

 ears and eyes. In uncertain twilight the birds are often 

 heard before they are seen. The birds should never 

 be allowed to pass the guns, but should be taken when- 

 ever they come up. This applies especially to morn- 

 ing, evening, and moonlight flighting, when the light 

 is uncertain, and the birds are within shot almost always 

 assoon,and sometimes sooner, than they are within sight. 

 Some advocate heavy shot for flighting, but the writer 

 is of opinion that Nos. 5 and 6 are the most useful for 

 this form of sport at all times, except during the day, 

 when No. 4 in the right and No. 3 in the left barrel 

 will be found the most effective. The reason why the 

 smaller shot is preferred for morning, evening, and 

 moonlight flighting is that a far shot is rarely avail- 

 able in the uncertain light, as the birds cannot be seen 

 at a long distance. The flighter should get to his 

 ground early and be comfortably settled ere the flight 

 begins. He should be careful to take the warmest of 

 clothing and the strongest of boots. On fine nights 

 flighting need hardly be attempted. The best sport 



