By keeping concealed behind a bank, I have fired on these occasions a series of very productive double shots in succession, and found Eley'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 of subsequent sport, even if you were accompanied by a good retriever. For single birds, at long distances, I found Eley's cartridges unexceptionable.

During several severe winters at Montreuil, the flights of wildfowl were large and abundant, combining an endless variety. I killed many birds that were unknown to me, besides ducks, teal, widgeon, dun-birds, pintails, sheldrake, wild geese, and swans. Of wild geese there were many large flocks. I often saw 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 trouble; in fact, without the further assistance of the gun, they would escape, as their power of diving and keeping under water is very great. As a sitting shot in the water, at a moderate distance, they put the best of guns to the test-so much so that it is better, when you can get a chance of a shot at a number of them flying, to avoid a sitting shot, although close. These birds are, however, strong-flavoured, and not worth cooking.

WILDFOWL SHOOTING, AND INSTRUCTIONS AS TO BUILDING AND USING A PUNT.

THE western coast of Scotland affords ample opportunity, during the months of November, December, and January, for wildfowl shooting from punts, to those who are fond of this arduous and sometimes rather perilous amusement. In the first place, there is an abundant supply of wildfowl of every description, especially if the winter be severe; in the next place, there are numerous

to carry off any water from the intended base of this nocturnal domicile. The centre is then excavated to the depth of about one or two feet, leaving an intervening space sufficient for two persons to sit down comfortably. The superstructure, which is of circular form, is then made by willow or hazel branches fixed deeply and firmly in the sides, the longer and stronger ones forming a semicircle, by each point being fixed in the ground at the opposite sides of the excavation : a small opening is left either in the front or in the rear, to admit of the huttier's access. When the woodwork is completed, straw and dry rushes are introduced thickly between the branches, and strongly interwoven; there is then a final covering of turf, with the sward outside, so as to give the hut, when finished, the appearance of a mound of earth. A door is made to close the aperture through which the passage is effected, the external part of which is also covered with turf. There are also several loopholes, through which the huttier can either command a view of his piece of water, or pass his gun through when occasion may require these he keeps filled with straw, removing, and replacing again, as occasion may require. Huts, when made in the manner which I have described, are very warm and comfortable; in fact, sometimes too warm. There is, of course, always a good supply of straw, fern, or dry rushes

at the bottom, with sometimes a board or two underneath. I have often found these huts very serviceable as a place of refuge from a heavy storm during the day, when out snipe shooting.

From three to five decoy-ducks are generally used-if three, then one mallard; if five, then two--and these are tied by the leg, in the water, to stakes driven in for the purpose, and are placed at respective distances, some on one side of the water, some on the other, so as to leave the centre clear for the reception and killing of the wildfowl, without molestation or injury to the decoybirds. The wild-fowl will, however, drop frequently quite close to the tame birds, in which case the huttier is obliged to exercise patience, till a fair opportunity presents itself of his being able to secure the most productive shot, clear of his own ducks, by availing himself of the moment when the largest number may be together. When the water surrounding the hut is too deep to admit of the stakes being driven into the ground, as is generally the case in those positions which are not artificial, a long cord is drawn across the pool of water, and secured on the banks of the opposite sides, and the decoy-ducks are fastened to this cord at intervals, and when ducks are killed a dog is required to bring them, or perhaps a boat is used, which lies concealed in some contiguous reeds.

sea-water lochs, receding far inland amidst woods and rocks, with various nooks, corners, bays, creeks, and other favourite places of resort of fowl-sometimes small islands, having nooks and bays partially sheltered by overhanging rocks.

All these spots are of easy access to the gunner' with his punt in moderately fine weather; and as many of them, on the retiring of the tide, afford first-rate feeding-ground for widgeon, the weed of which they are fond being produced in abundance, the opportunity for sport is sure to present itself most favourably whenever the moon, tide, and wind may be suitable. But even in the daytime wildfowl of all kinds are easily approached in these localities with a punt by judicious management, if there be a slight breeze, and the day be in other respects favourable, inasmuch as, from being rarely fired at by any casual shooters, they are neither shy nor wild.

The first year I was on the western coast of Scotland, during the autumn and winter I frequently observed flocks of widgeon, from three to five hundred together, day after day, in the same sea-water lochs, which might have been easily approached with a punt; but as neither I 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