UPLAND SHOOTING. 
305 
endeavor to catch sight of them. I will suppose him fortunate 
enough to do so, and that they are perfectly unconscious of his 
near approach. He must lower his head in the same cautious 
manner, and look for some refuge at a fair distance from the 
birds, through which he may fire the deadly sitting shot. After 
crawling serpent-like to this, he w ill again raise his head by 
hair-breadths, and peeping through the bush or tuft, select the 
greatest number of birds in line; then drawing back a little, in 
order that his gun may be just clear of the bush for the second 
barrel, after having fired the first through it, will take sure aim 
at his selected victims. Should he unfortunately not find an 
opening to fire through, the only other alternative is by almost 
imperceptible degrees to raise his gun to the right of the bush, 
and close to it; but in doing this the birds are much more likely 
to see him and take wing. Never fire over the bush, as you 
are almost certain to be perceived whenever you raise your 
head ; more good shots are lost to an experienced hand by a 
rapid jerk, not keeping a sufficient watch for stragglers, and 
over-anxiety to fire, than by any other way. Having succeeded 
in getting the sitting shot, the fowl, especially if they have not 
seen from whence it comes, will rise perpendicularly in the air, 
and you are not unlikely to have a chance of knocking down a 
couple more with your second barrel; but if they rise wide, 
you must select the finest old Mallard among them, or whatever 
euits your fancy. Directly upon hearing the report, your 
retriever will rush to your assistance, and having secured your 
cripples, you will re-load, and taking out your glass, reconnoitre 
again; for though Ducks, Widgeon, &c., would fly out upon 
the loch at the report of your gun, yet the diver tribe,* if there 
are only one or two together, are perhaps more likely to be 
under water than above when you fire; but more of them 
anon. 
* The divers most common to us are the BufFel-headed Duck, or Butter- 
Ball ; and the two varieties of Merganser, more commonly known as SheU 
drakes —to which fowl, it does not, in truth, offer even a remote resemblance 
The true Sheldrake Anas Tadorna, being a perfect Duck, and not a diver. 
