220 UPLAND SHOOTING. 



the coming birds by these frequent reports. No birds in 

 sight, yet our signals of warning were unfailing, and 

 when the deep roar of some gun a few hundred yards 

 ahead of us rolled and echoed through the hills and val- 

 leys, the cry resounded along the hill-sides: "Down! 

 Down ! Here they come by the thousands ! " At this time, 

 the advancing flock seemed to rise out of the hUl-tops far 

 ahead of us, and everyone, man and boy, quickly secreted 

 himself behind the first bush or tree and awaited the con- 

 gregated flock's approach; then, when near enough, the 

 shooter would arise and pour from his destructive gun 

 the leaden hail, while the frightened flock would break 

 its solid ranks and sheer from the dangerous place; but of 

 no avaU, for there were hunters secreted all through the 

 woods, and "bang!" "bang!" the guns roared out, until, 

 within a few acres space, perhaps twenty different hunters 

 fired into the flock, while the birds separated at each 

 report, and quickly came together again, veering from the 

 spot where the ascending smoke was, or at times turning 

 completely around, and then advancing by another route. 

 As the day sped along, the flight increased until, at times, 

 flocks of all sizes were to be seen, all flying in the same 

 direction, but each succeeding flock followed its predeces- 

 sor as accurately as if on a marked line. This peculiarity 

 in their flight is noticeable, for they fly over the hills and 

 dart down the vales in graceful, sweeping lines, which are 

 particularly pleasing to one's sight. During their flight 

 it was amusing to see the boys shooting them ; all kinds 

 of guns were represented, and fortunate the boy who 

 owned a gun, for he was admired and envied by aU his 

 companions; they followed him with undisguised admira- 

 tion, and their youthful voices were always first and loud- 

 est in asserting claims for disputed birds. The flocks 

 were simply immense, and it was impossible, when many 

 fired into the same flock, to tell who brought down the 



