16 INTRODUCTION. 
The ornithological descriptions of wild fowl are taken 
from Audubon and Wilson, but comparatively few 
sportsmen care for these scientific portraits of the birds, 
at the same time they are handy for reference, and, as 
a sportsman friend says, “ there is no one thing that 
affords the same satisfaction to a hunter, after he has 
fallen over a brush pile, while chasing a crippled duck, 
as to be able to express his opinion of that duck in 
correct ornithological language.” 
Wild fowl shooting is a science ; and when one con- 
siders how little it is understood by those who think 
they are experts, it is surprising. Many hunters of 
means give it no especial thought, although they are 
excellent shots. They have stated times of going, and 
certain localities to go to; when they arrive at their 
destination some local hunter takes them where the 
birds are and their joy iscomplete. No need of especial 
thought on their part, for wealth carves the way to 
success with them. But to the average hunter, his 
success depends on his knowledge of the habits of the 
birds, and unless he is skilled in his calling, he is apt 
to be disappointed over the day’s hunt. There is but 
one remedy for him, that is, study and observation. 
The sculling of wild fowl is a science of itself. This 
method of hunting seems confined to a comparatively 
small territory of the vast West. In this volume it is 
explained in its many forms. Possibly the reader may 
think there is mentioned with great frequency the 
handling of decoys, the building of blinds, and proper 
aim,—but they are the primary studies, the reading, 
writing and arithmetic of scientific wild fowl shooting, 
and must be thoroughly understood before one can 
think of graduating. They cannot be learned too well, 
