Page:The Zoologist, 3rd series, vol 2 (1878).djvu/233

Rh for his Plovers in the fields; by approaching a flock in a circular manner, not going directly towards them, he may obtain a company-shot for both barrels. These two shots put up other flocks, which wheel about for a considerable time before alighting. If the wind is westerly they often go straight away inland, and do not give another chance; but if easterly they wheel and turn many times before alighting. If the shore-shooter can with any degree of correctness imitate the call of the Plover, while the birds are thus wheeling about, the flock will often fly directly over his head within range, when a beautiful double shot may be had, the first barrel at a single bird as they float piping overhead, the second, as—with the fall of the first bird—the remainder of the flock dash down with tremendous impetuosity. Here is perhaps one of the very neatest shots that can be made. I have often singlehanded killed from five to eight couple of Golden Plover, perhaps half of which were shot in this way. But when going specially for Plover, two guns are always better than one; because Plover—if their haunts and flights under different conditions of weather and wind are understood by both gunners—can often be almost driven; and here numerous opportunities are afforded of single shots, as. the birds usually fly overhead in open rank. After an hour or two of this shooting, depending upon the time one arrives at the scene of operations, a return should be made to the sea-wall or to the sand-bank, or positions be taken up a little inland, opposite certain landmarks on the sea-wall, known to the local shore-shooters, and the shelter of a "stook" of wheat or beans sought for. Presently as the tide begins to leave about a hundred yards of mud-flat uncovered, a few Golden Plover—perhaps in twos and threes or small flocks—are seen skimming along close to the tide line, and all flying in the same direction; if the wind is northerly, flying north, towards the broad mud-flats which lie at the back of the long breakwater at Grangemouth; if southerly, flying south to the semicircular bay which lies between Avonmouth and Bo'ness. These small "trips" of Plover are the first to leave the fields, and have crossed the sea-wall at various points, some of which points must be known to the shore-shooter if he expects to have any shooting. If standing inland behind a wheat "stook" the shots one gets are somewhat similar to those obtained when the birds are frequenting the ploughed fields. They pass often just within long shot overhead, and a second barrel may sometimes be obtained as they dive downwards. If, however, the gun be stationed at the sea-wall the shots obtained are different, as the Plover upon approaching the sea-wall dash down and skim low over, at certain points, especially when a strong breeze is blowing off the east. It requires a sharp shot to get more than one bird at this station, and often before your single bird drops, the rest of the flock are out of shot, skimming away over the mud-flats. If, again, a gun be stationed upon the shell-bank,—hid, we will suppose, by an old tree-root washed down the Avon or the Forth and stranded, or even simply seated on