of the charge, as the size of the body bears a small proportion to the apparent size of the bird when on the wing,—it is not uncommon to see several feathers cut out of the wings, and the bird fly away as if unhurt.

All these birds afford amusement chiefly to schoolboys. The sportsman in pursuit of game does not think them worthy attention; but the golden or whistling-plover, and the dottrel, which are birds often met with in hilly districts, are generally considered as worth firing at, if they accidentally come in the way, but are not worth the trouble of following.

The Land-rail. The land-rail or corn-crake is a bird of passage. It may be found with pointers or spaniels early in spring, in hedges or long grass. The dogs for this sport should not be staunch, such as will foot the birds are best, as it is with great difficulty they can be made to rise. It is only during the first fortnight after their arrival that they may be fairly killed in spring,-after that time they begin to pair. In August and September the sportsman sometimes casually meets with a land-rail, while beating for other birds.

WILD DUCK SHOOTING.

Except during a severe frost, wild ducks are seldom met with in the inland counties any where but on large pools and reservoirs, where they can only be approached by having recourse to some stratagem, as waiting in a shed on an island or the

bank of a pool, or by stalking behind a horse trained

to the purpose.

When the pools are frozen over, wild ducks are found on rivers, wells, and brooks, or in shallow drains and gutters wherein there are springs of fresh water and plenty of water-weeds, amongst which they can wade and feed. The flights being broken, ducks are found singly or only few in number, and are consequently easy of access, and may be shot with a common fowling-piece, the size of shot not being less than No. 2. For this description of shooting, the gun should be well charged with powder, and not over-weighted with shot. Wild-fowl are so fortified with down on some parts as to resist any but hard-stricken shot. Their back is the most vulnerable part, and all kinds of wild-fowl present it to the shooter as they rise. They are also easily brought down when they present a cross shot, but when approaching it is not advisable to fire at them. As the shooter pursues the course of a small winding river or brook, he should move on as noiselessly as possible, keeping, if practicable, at such distance from the bank that he can command a view of the surface of the water not more than twenty yards before him, or else keep out of sight of the water, except at every turn, when he should appear suddenly on the bank. When there are hollow banks, and willows overhanging the water, the shooter may occasionally make some noise and look carefully among the willows, where a solitary duck will sometimes let

him pass her. A mallard is readily distinguishable, but not always a duck, the latter being so near the colour of the bank. If a dog accompany the shooter it should follow at heel. The earlier in the morning the better for this sport, though in a mist during a frost wild ducks will remain in the brooks and gutters all day. The shooter should first follow the course of the river to some distance, and take the brooks and sedges afterwards.

The shooter often waits near a fresh water spring for the coming of ducks, on the verge of night. With his back to a tree or bank he is sufficiently concealed. The ducks, before alighting, fly round their feeding place several times, each time contracting their circle, the shooter, therefore should not be in haste, as a near shot is desirable at night; he should take care, however, to fire before the bird is below the sky-line, or he will not see it distinctly enough to take a correct aim. If it be a dark evening, he need only wait about a quarter of an hour, the last quarter of an hour wherein he can see to shoot; but if moonlight, he may wait an hour, during which time, and sometimes even longer, ducks will be constantly winging past him.

Ducks may be walked up on a moonlight night, and killed when above the sky-line, as easily as during day. The objection to night shooting is, that birds are often lost.

There are several kinds of wild-fowl, such as the water-hen, which will dive rather than fly away when disturbed. They are, for the most part,

clumsy birds on the wing, and are killed without difficulty when they can be made to rise. When shot at swimming, the shooter should take aim and fire instantaneously, or they will be under water while he is drawing the trigger.

WILD-FOWL SHOOTING FROM A PUNT, WITH A LARGE SHOULDER-GUN.

We quote the following from Colonel Hawker's directions for shooting wild-fowl from a punt, with a large shoulder-gun :

"In following wild-fowl, it is easier to get within twenty yards of them by going to lee-ward, than a hundred and fifty if directly to windward, so very acute is their sense of smelling.

"The best time, therefore, to have sport with a canoe and á shoulder-gun, (provided it be low water or half ebb while you are hid in the creeks,) is in clear, frosty, moonlight nights, when the wind happens to blow towards you as you face the moon. It is then impossible for the wild-fowl to smell you, and you may, by getting them directly under the light, have the most accurate outline of every bird, and even distinctly see them walking about, at a much greater distance than a gun would do execution. From thus being on the shining mud-banks, they appear quite black, except some of the old cock widgeons, on the wings of which the white is often plainly to be seen.

“On arriving sufficiently near, should the water be so low that you cannot present your gun at the birds without kneeling or standing up, you must

get aground at the side of the creek, or steady your canoe by means of forcing each oar from between the thowls into the mud, otherwise the recoil of the gun will set her rocking, and thus you might probably be tipped out. Having made all fast, rise up and fire. Take care, however, to rise high enough to be well clear of the mud, or not a feather will you touch, and present as follows; -by day or moonlight, if the birds are close, directly at them, or, if beyond forty yards, shoot at their heads,-unless they are feeding in a concave place, where the tide has left a kind of plash, in which case you must level rather under them, or you will only graze their back feathers. In star-light take your aim just at the top of the narrow black line in which birds always appear to one who is low down; and when so dark that you cannot see your gun, present, as you think, about a foot over, or you will most likely shoot above a foot under them.

"Should you have been successful, you will, if at night, generally hear your cripples (wounded fowl) beating on the mud before you can sufficiently recover your eyes, from being dazzled by the fire, to see them. Your man then puts on his mudboards,” (which are flat square pieces of wood fastened to the feet, to enable the party to walk or wade through mud,) "taking the setting pole to support him, and assist the dog in collecting the killed and wounded; taking care to secure first the outside birds, lest they should escape to a creek. During this time you are left in charge of the