;cu.P.xnT, 



CHAPTER XIII. 



Behaviour under Fire. 



33. It is not easy to write anytliiug in the way of Beliaviour 

 generalisation aliout the behaviour of the various Ducks ""^\?J jaf ' 

 under fire. The Pochards as a class, owing to their affec- 

 tion for large open stretches of water when resting, are 

 less accessible than the other Ducks to the shore-shooter, 

 but the habit is a recommendation in drives on big 

 jhecis. The Tufted Duck, though wild and shy, will keep 

 to large pieces of water, never leaving them, according to 

 Hume, till after dark, li^ven the tamest of the varieties 

 will show distrust if much disturbed and shot at ; it may 

 however be said that the Pintail will iiever be seen after 

 the first few shots on a big day, while the Shoveller will 

 hang; about till the bitter end. For wariness the Wioeon 

 (when driven), the Ked-crested Pochard and the Garganey 

 Teal probably come next to the Pintail and not many of 

 them will be found in the bag at tlie day's end, which 

 will prove to consist mainly of Spotbill, Mallard, GadwaH, 

 Common Teal, Shoveller, Pochard of all kinds other than 

 the Red crested, with a sprinkling, where they are at all 

 common, of Marbled Duck. 



Tno duck, it may safely be said, is easy to bring down. 

 All are strong, fast and dense-plumaged enough to require 

 to be hit well forward. For his size the Spotbill carries 

 less shot than the other ducks, a fact that is explained 

 by his having a lighter feather covering, being a resident, 

 than the migratory species. 



NOTES ON INDIVIDUAL SPECIES. 



SpothilL — They are not shy birds, saya Stuart- B<dei-, 

 and until they have been much shot at, can generally 

 be approached near enough for a shot fairly easily. 

 It is perhaps an easier bird, says Stuart-Baker, than 

 most of its size and weight to bring down when hit, owing 

 to its plumage being rather less dense than that of many 

 other ducks. 



Mallard. — Strong flyers and, if walked up, require 

 straight shooting, as they rise with a bound straiglit u])' 

 in the air. 



Gaduall. — Though not as a rule a very shy bird, 

 says Stuart-Bdker, yet he is quite wide awake enough to 

 make the getting within shot of him an interesting, if 

 not difficult, job. Where too he has been much shot, 

 all one's ingenuity and perseverance will be required 

 Iiefore the g;ime-bag can be made to assume the bulgy 

 appearance it ought. 



Common Tent. — Teal, says Stu2rt-Baker, often lie 

 close enough to allow of constant shots at from 25 to 40 

 yards, and as they often scatter a good deal, eveu when 



