242 THE COMPLETE WILDFOWLER 
moon shines bright and clear, and not a breath of wind stirs 
the air, and the term ‘‘light as day” can apply. On such 
nights the fowl can see you and keep moving away just as you 
nearly get within range. At odd times a clear, moonlit night 
will answer, if your approach can be concealed from the sight 
of the birds by an intervening bank, yet not, as a rule, 
otherwise. Dark nights are no-sport nights for the amateur 
punter. They may do for the fowl-shooter, but not for the 
sportsman. Shots fired at sound in darkness, no doubt may 
kill fowl : yet how many birds are gathered from such shots? 
About two birds for every dozen brought down is about the 
mark. Just as ‘‘clear nights” can be likened to ‘‘ butterfly 
days,” so can dark nights be likened to ‘‘foggy days,” 
—i.e., as far as any likelihood of sport is concerned. 
Before concluding these brief remarks on punt-shooting 
weather we must not omit to state that little has been said 
about windy weather and of severe cold accompanied by 
snow. Windy weather always has a tendency, more or less, 
to drive wildfowl to sheltered quarters, no matter from which 
direction the wind may blow. The game ducks (widgeon, 
mallard, etc.) soon get tired or restless when being buffeted 
about at sea or on large open waters. They will sometimes 
seek out sheltered places sooner than ride out on what one 
would think was, practically speaking, a smooth sea for ducks. 
This, however, is not so strongly evidenced in birds much 
shot at, for at some spots the ducks will face very rough water 
and go down in it to gain what rest they can, sooner than risk 
their lives by going where they would be more comfortable, 
yet in imminent danger. The main drawback to windy 
weather for punting is that, though the punt might stand 
a little ‘‘dirty ” water, she is well-nigh uncontrollable when in 
a ‘‘lippery seaway”’ of any note. Of course, there need not 
be much sea on to swamp a gunning-punt, and the following 
of wildfowl in a punt during windy weather is not a wise plan. 
