132 British Diving Ducks 
is often a matter of difficulty to stalk diving ducks, because they are always alive to the 
movements of other creatures, and seem to recognise at once any sign of danger communi- 
cated by other birds. A Heron rising and squawking, a flock of frightened curlews or 
oyster-catchers, or the attentions of a great black-backed gull will put a whole coast-line on 
the move, so that it is often impossible to make a successful stalk unless the whole flock of 
ducks dive underneath simultaneously. The only way is either to wait until the conditions 
are more favourable, or take advantage of the whole flock being under water, and to run 
boldly to the point of firing. I have generally found that if you can get within 150 yards 
of a flock of Eiders, Long-tails, or Golden-Eyes, and mark correctly the spot within sight 
of the shore where you expect them to rise to the surface, you have time to accomplish 
the run. Golden-Eyes, Pochard, and Mergansers nearly always rise into the air at once when 
they see you, thus offering a much better target than one that is on the water, but Eiders 
and Long-tails have a way of sinking the body, turning away from the shooter and 
swimming off, thus off"ering a bad shot for hitting. This is especially the case if they have 
been little disturbed. 
Another method of obtaining sea-ducks is by lying on flats of land or mussel-banks 
at dead low water when the birds come in from the sea to ascend the estuaries to feed. 
This is very uncertain sport, and apt to be a little dangerous unless the gunner knows his 
ground and tidal movements thoroughly well, or has a punt hidden somewhere close at 
hand, for the tide has a nasty way of creeping suddenly round these banks and isolating the 
gunner. When waiting on sand and mussel-banks, it is useful to have a large oil-skin to 
lie on, and two guns— one full-choke 12-bore, and the other a powerful 8-bore — so that 
shots at varying distances may be accepted. 
Often days may go by without the gunner doing much at this form of sport, and then 
one day occurs when, apparently for little reason, there is a big movement on the part of the 
sea-ducks, and a good bag of Scaup, Scoters, Golden-Eye, and Divers of various kinds may 
be killed. I remember one day on the Eden estuary, when the ducks moved in a wonderful 
way after a heavy north-easter, and I shot away all my cartridges in a very short time, 
getting 22 Scaup, 6 Golden-Eye, 6 Velvet-Scoters, 10 Common Scoters, 3 Wigeon, 
5 Divers, and 2 Brent Geese. The birds continued to stream up the estuary for hours 
afterwards. 
It is hardly necessary to say more than a word or two on the pleasures and difficulties 
of shooting ducks both with the shoulder and the big-gun in the single and double-handed 
punt, as this form of sport has been fully dealt with in other works. It is quite an art in 
itself, and involves years of work on the sea and estuaries to understand all its charm, its 
difficulty, and its dangers. It is enough to say, however, that there is no method by which 
a large series of surface-feeding ducks may be obtained to compare with it, whilst the punt- 
gunner must be young and capable of withstanding considerable cold and discomfort to be 
successful. Given high animal spirits, a sound constitution, and a plentiful stock of 
patience, the punt-shooter will enjoy some great moments, as good as any that life can offer, 
and if he loves stalking just for the sake of its intellectual charm as well as the pleasure 
of studying birds in the very heart of their homes, he will not be disappointed. 
By means of marsh- and lake-shooting early in the season and punting in the winter, 
the naturalist can in a few seasons kill nearly all the surface-feeding ducks he requires. 
