at sea. Nothing can more betray ignorance of weather than to consider a white frost as the commencement of a hard and healthy winter. A genuine good frost invariably begins with a moderate degree of cold, and a thin coat of ice; and, from that, gradually increases till all assumes the aspect of a northern climate. Nothing can be more healthy, or more seasonable, than this, provided it sets in before the new year be too far advanced. But the white frost is merely a frozen fog that usually ends with rain, in one, three, or five days, and causes more illness than any other weather. It depresses the spirits-paralyses the limbs, and I have heard the hardiest of sailors and gunners say, is the only weather in which they feel really chilled by the cold. Yet, after all, except to doctors and undertakers, it does no good; but, on the contrary, a great deal of harm to gunning. I have observed for thirty years, that the more white frosts we have, the fewer wild fowl arrive on our coast. This is easily accounted for by the westerly winds that invariably follow this deceitful weather. Let the Londoners, therefore, learn a little from the sailors and gunners, and no longer be led into the prognostication of a hard winter because the ponds in the parks are frozen, and the sun shines gaily at mid-day. But, on the contrary, when they see the white powder, or atmospheric arsenic, on their housetops, to take warning that, ere long, their surtouts and umbrellas will be in general requisition.

As some proof that the foregoing observations are correct, I should state that, during the last winter, 1843, and beginning of 1844, we have had more white frosts on the Hampshire coast, than in any

preceding season that I can remember; and never have I seen so much sickness, or so miserable a scarcity of wildfowl.

The nick-names for this deceitful weather, though somewhat ridiculous, are by no means ill applied. In the Norfolk marshes the fen-men call it a 66 nasty water frost," because it is the fore-runner of wet weather. Other slang names among gunners are a "nipping sniveller," an "apothecary's," or an "undertaker's," frost, from the innumerable colds and illness which this kind of frost, with the subsequent rain, occasions; an "arsenic" frost, because it is white and poisonous to the constitution; and a "fool's" frost, because inexperienced people, from seeing ice an inch and more in thickness, and then a sunshiny day, fancy that there has set in a fine healthy winter. But, as before observed, the sharper a white frost freezes, the more certain it is not to last.

There is another kind of frost which powders the trees, and, instead of melting off, turns to icicles that remain all day, and is, by some old gunners, called a "powder frost." The effect of this is The effect of this is very different from that of the other, as it generally brings on a hard and healthy winter; and if not later than three weeks after Christmas, causes a large migration of northern wildfowl.

GUNNERS' TIDE-TABLE.

In order to save the trouble of constantly referring to Old Moore, my plan is to go to him only at each quarter of the moon, and fill in a tide-table, as here shown. This, for the quarter, saves about an hour in

time, of which every one should be tenacious, unless content to live and die like a dog.

Although calculations in this easy way will only come to a nicety when the quarter occupies eight days, yet they will be quite near enough to direct a gunner in his tides for wildfowl. He has only to choose any quarter, and fill in his tide-table

hour later every day.

of an

N. B. There is a second high tide that comes down, and again floods the oozes in the Western Channel about two hours after the high water above shown. But both tides are of course sometimes retarded or expedited by the wind and weather.

WILDFOWL ARTILLERY.

CARRIAGE FOR USING A STANCHION-GUN ON LAND.

BEFORE we cross the Channel, for France, we will now look at the artillery.

A stanchion-gun may be fired from a carriage, that can be wheeled over land; which is much lighter than a common-loaded barrow. But, with this contrivance, the person firing the gun must sit on the carriage and rest his feet on the strap, so as to go back with it, otherwise he would, by going directly behind it, stand a chance of being knocked down; or, at all events, of getting his shins broken.

Having contrived one, which answers well, I here give a representation of it, with directions for its management.

DIRECTIONS.

A barrel made with trunnions, or a spring swivel, is best; as with this the copper is no longer required.

N. B. Block to be 22 inches wide; iron round the top of the hole; and the stanchion to go through the axle-tree below.

Keep the hole well oiled, to prevent rust; and for the facility of turning, or lifting out the gun.

The ramrod, &c., may go on the carriage.

Your shoulder and cheek should be kept just clear of the stock. N.B. Mr. Berney's spring would be the very thing for my artillery.

K K

D, Cord that goes over stock to elevate muzzle of gun, while wheeling carriage.

E, Leather strap to support feet.

F, Splinter-bar to carry a hurdle, bushes, or any thing to mask shooter and apparatus, when approaching birds.

(To do which he must unhook the cord, and let the gun rest on the bar; then fix his ambush, and crawl along, pushing all before him till he is near enough to get into his seat and fire.)

INVISIBLE APPROACH.

We have all been asleep about one invention-and that is the means of approaching wild birds in an open plain, or on a pond which affords no ambush. The old stalking horse was almost the only remedy for this, till I brought out the "wildfowl artillery ;" and, with either of these, if birds only fly round to reconnoitre, you are exposed, and there is an end of your sport. But, at last, thanks to this wonderful "march of intellect," I have had the brains to contrive, what I was a "flat" for not thinking of many years beforean invisible approach, over which birds may repeat their