MOVEMENTS OF SHORE-BIRDS 107 
is, however, more particularly of the sport to be obtained on 
such grounds I intend to speak. Roughly, our marshes may 
be referred to as of two kinds, viz. tidal and non-tidal. The 
former may better be termed saltings. They usually comprise 
grass-lands which have been cut up by the sea into innumer- 
able creeks and runners. In some parts they are called 
‘*fitties,” ‘‘grass-ends,” “strays,” and so on. The non-tidal 
marshes are either fresh water or brackish, which is half salt. 
In the latter case it would imply that at some previous date 
these marshes were connected with a tidal course from the sea. 
The general contour of such marshes is grassy, with here and 
there ‘‘fleets”’ or ponds fringed with reeds and rushes, grow- 
ing from a soft and boggy bottom. In both places the 
methods of shooting are identical, the gunner walking up his 
quarry. The fresh-water marshes usually afford little more 
than wildfowl and snipe, whereas saltings are tenanted also by 
shore-birds or waders, but are minus snipe, except on migra- 
tion and during frosts. 
The modus operand: is to walk at right angles to the 
creeks, fleets, etc. In this way the birds are usually sprung 
well within range. When a breeze is blowing it is generally 
found better to walk down wind than up. By so doing the 
birds rise to head the wind, but on perceiving the gunner they 
sidle off and afford shots easier to negotiate, and certainly 
give more time to get ‘‘on.” In short, they afford cross or 
side shots and fly much steadier. Against the wind they will 
fly straight away, and, springing at unknown moments, 
allow the gun a very meagre chance of killing. I think that 
at most places walking down-wind is also the best way to 
approach snipe. Of course, duck have a keen sense of smell, 
but in marshy districts the rushes and walls of the creeks 
prevent the scent of the rapidly approaching sportsman from 
perceptibly reaching the fowl. This is, furthermore, against 
the birds when a strong wind is blowing. I think fowl, when 
