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large, and when the tide rose they came inland in quick succession, following the course of the river, and generally within gun-shot, some dropping in the river, others pursuing their aëreal course.

By keeping concealed behind a bank, I have fired on these occasions a series of very productive double shots in succession, and found Ely's common cartridges very successful; but although I have frequently fired into the middle of very large flocks of widgeon, and almost constantly killed two birds with each barrel, I seldom killed more with the cartridge. But the advantage of the cartridge is found in actually killing your birds, there being no plunging or diving in the water. Nine times out of ten they fall dead; whereas, although with loose shot more birds might be brought down, four out of five would be winged birds, and occasion much trouble, loss of time, and subsequent sport, even with a good retriever. For single birds, at long distances, I found Ely's cartridges unexceptionable.

During several severe winters at Montreuil, the flights of wild fowl were large and abundant, combining an endless variety. I killed I killed many birds that were unknown to me, besides ducks, teal, widgeon, sheldrake, wild goose, and swan : of wild geese there were many large flocks. I also saw several flights of swans ; in one there were as many as twenty-one. I happened to

get a shot at one which was alone in the river, and killed him. The common and red widgeon were very numerous, but the most abundant in very severe weather was the black widgeon, which the French call" pilet." The flights of these are large, there being sometimes as many as from twenty to fifty together. They are very tough and difficult to kill, and when only winged give the retrievers much difficulty; in fact, without the further assistance of the gun, they would escape, as their power of diving and keeping under water is very great, and even as a sitting shot in the water, at a moderate distance, put the best of guns to the test-so much so, that it is better to avoid a sitting shot, although close, when you have a probability of securing a double shot on their rising, especially if the flight be a large one. These birds are, however, strongflavoured, and not worth cooking.

WILD FOWL SHOOTING IN SCOTLAND.

The western coast of Scotland affords ample opportunity, during the months of November, December, and January, for wild fowl shooting from punts, to those who are fond of this arduous

supported by the deck, with the assistance of a copper rest at the stem of the punt, and moved as the gunner may wish, subject, however, at all times to the salutary restraint of a powerful rope breeching. A small block may be fixed for the reception of the mast. After the bottom planks are fastened together, and reduced at their extreme ends to their proper shape, a strong cord is then tied round tightly in several places, so as to give to the bottom a slight convexity of shape; because, if the bottom were perfectly flat, the punt would neither sail so well, pass so easily through shallow places, nor be moved to and from the shore with the same facility. If the convexity were too great, it would make the punt less safe, but it ought to be so slight as to be scarcely perceptible, in which case it will not diminish its security in the slightest degree.

During the time the bottom remains fastened (two days will be sufficient for the purpose), the sides may be prepared; these may be three-eighths of an inch in thickness, height at bow 4 inches, astern 10 inches. They must be inclined outwards, so as to admit of the deck amidships being 9 inches wider than the bottom, i.e. 4 feet 9 inches, the bottom being 4 feet in width. This external inclination of the sides is very essential to security. After the sides are added to the bottom, the timbers, which must be of tough

nor those who were with me had either punt or any gun beyond common shoulder-guns, the widgeon remained unmolested, and appeared to take little notice of numerous shots fired at snipes and other game in the immediate vicinity of the lochs. They would, however, when disturbed by fishermen sometimes fly from one loch to another during the day, as there were two large lochs parallel to each other, and almost immediately proximate, being separated only by a small intervening promontory. These two lochs were also equally their place of resort by night, as the mud, which was accessible at low water, was covered with that particular seaweed to which widgeon are partial. In these two lochs there were about a thousand widgeons; they made their appearance at the end of October, and remained during the winter. When occasionally disturbed by boats, or by the arrival of vessels, they took flight as far as two small islands, about a mile out in the open sea; here, on several occasions, a few brace were killed by common fowling-pieces, the facility of proximate access being great, owing to the favourable nature of the sides. of the islands; but a large punt-gun, both here and in the two lochs, would have done wonderful execution.

These islands were also much resorted to by wild geese, especially as a roosting place, although I have occasionally found them there during the

day, and killed a few. The geese arrive in this part of Scotland generally as early as August, and do much mischief to the farmers' oats, which they attack at daybreak, or perhaps earlier, and then retire to the islands to roost; they, however, sometimes remain in the oats during the whole day if not disturbed.

The coast in this part of the Highlands is so very flat, that scarcely any chance of sport is afforded to the sportsman with any ordinary fowling-piece; the punt and big gun must therefore be resorted to. A large sized punt, about 22 feet, is the most convenient, as it will hold three persons, will carry a sail, and in moderately fine weather is perfectly safe. If a punt be well made, she cannot be upset by any sea; the only liability is of taking water in, when either sailing fast before the wind, owing to her extremely sharp, narrow and shallow stern, or by being exposed to a heavy side sea. But a punt may be so constructed that she cannot sink, even if filled with water, by having air-pipes round her sides and in herfore part.

The best materials for a punt are oak, elm, Norway deal of the best quality and withy; oak or elm for her bottom, Norway deal for her sides, withy for her deck and bulwarks, and tough ash for her timbers; all the fastenings and metalwork to be of copper. I have, however, seen and used a very excellent punt built entirely of Nor

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