MALLARD—TIMBER SHOOTING. 1G 
As you are now facing the south, the wind blows from 
you, and the ducks will fly over you with the wind, 
then come back against the wind to alight. Notice par- 
ticularly how the decoys are placed. Eighteen in all, 
quite a flock. Instead of putting them in bunches, or 
flocks, they are strung in pairs up and down this narrow 
place, forty yards each side of you. Why is this done ? 
Because they have commenced to pair, and you will 
notice they are flying in pairs all the time. Possibly 
you thought while setting them out I was a little par- 
ticular. So I was, for I wanted every pair to be in the 
sunshine. There they glitter and show up nicely. See 
what a nice, open place I have selected for you, giving 
a clear view to the east, west and south. What a 
splendid day, with the sun shining in a cloudless sky, 
and a mild, cool north wind. Use your duck squawk 
frequently whether you see birds or not. Often they 
will be in hearing if not in sight. Don’t attempt shoot- 
ing through the tops of those trees behind you, for 
through those limbs and twigs you won't kill once in 
twenty times. It is surprising how one misses in shoot- 
ing through the tree tops,—shots that one is certain of : 
every duck shooter knows this. You are now ready for 
business and pleasure. Just allow me to step into the 
blind with you and see you kill a pair. No, thanks! 
Keep the gun,—I want you to do the shooting. 
Mark, west. A duck! Call her. Well, well, wonder 
why she didn’t come ? Must have seenus! Nothing of 
the kind. Don’t feel hurt that you frightened her away 
with your call. When you blew it, you made the sound 
too loud. She wasn’t far, about a hundred yards—and in 
this still woods would have hearda soft mellow call. In. 
stead of calling in that way, you filled your lungs withair, 
