charge of fine shingle off the beach at the first flock that came
within close range, and had the satisfaction of bagging seven birds at
the first shot--indeed, it was almost impossible to miss them, they
flew in such thick clouds. I have frequently killed on the stubbles,
from twenty to thirty at one shot.

Directly after the wheat is carted, the pigeons alight on the stubble
in vast flocks. As they are chiefly the young broods, they are very
easily approached: the sportsman should creep up behind them; for they
are so intent on feeding, that they will seldom notice his approach
till he is within fair range of them.

The hindmost ranks are continually rising from the ground, and dropping
in front of the others. This is the proper time to fire, just as the
hind-rank are a couple or three feet from the ground; firing the second
barrel as the whole flock takes fight.

In the vicinity of the towns, sometimes a regular _battue_ takes place,
when all kind of firearms are in requisition, from the old Tower musket
to the celebrated Joe Manton.

In July, the pigeons feed a great deal on wild berries, such as
raspberries, huckle-berries, blue-berries, and a variety of other
kinds. Many people would naturally think that such vast flocks of birds
would alight on the standing grain, and destroy the crop: such,
however, is not the case. Sometimes, during the seed-time in the
spring, they are a little troublesome; but I have never known them
alight on the ripening grain. The Canadian blackbirds are far more
destructive in that particular--especially that species with the
orange-bar across the wings. These birds alight on the Indian corn