CHAPTER X 



WOOD-PIGEONS AND WILD-FOWL 



The difficulty, uncertainty, and charm of pigeon-shooting Novel 

 pigeon-shooting Value of first innings Best time Hints 

 Habits of pigeons A pigeon and a stone Turtle-doves A 

 warm corner Pigeons at ponds Food of pigeons Pigeon 

 diphtheria A slice of luck Winter work. 



WOOD-PIGEONS are the wild-fowl of waterless districts. 

 I have had my share of sport with wood-pigeons if 

 I never have any more ; also I have missed my share 

 of pigeons. The man who can hit wood-pigeons 

 can hit anything that flies. Not every man has 

 killed a brace from a covey of driven partridges 

 so that both birds have fallen to the ground in front 

 of him to accomplish the feat at the expense of 

 wood-pigeons coming straight is not so simple as it 

 seems. I never did it with partridges, but managed 

 it with wood-pigeons once, and once only. I came 

 within an ace of doing it a second time during the 

 last days in my keeper's berth, but the second bird 

 fell, as it were, 'on the line/ However, to score a 

 double, at wood-pigeons, brings, in my experience of 

 shooting, as much satisfaction as anything, no matter 



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