112 “COME DUCK SHOOTING WITH ME” 
As Jimmy spoke a little bunch of seven ducks rose 
from the raft, swung round, and headed in towards shore. 
Flying as they were headed they would pass about two 
hundred yards south of us. But as they came nearer 
they saw our decoys; Jimmy was calling low to them 
but when they turned towards us he stopped calling. 
They didn’t set their wings but after taking a good 
look at the decoys they flew by a good gunshot wide 
of the sink box. By good luck I knocked one down. 
Jimmy began calling again. Perhaps it was the 
call or possibly they saw the wounded duck swimming 
in the water. Anyway the six spoonbills turned and 
circled back again, within shot. We got three of 
them. 
‘“There,”’ said Jimmy. ‘‘Didn’t I tell you that 
spoonbills were silly, greedy ducks? Think of their 
being stich fools as to turn right back after being shot at, 
and fly right over the decoys again!”’ 
**Oh, well,’’ I told him, ‘‘I don’t mind, all ducks are 
just ducks to me; canvasbacks and redheads are bigger 
when you bag them, but I like to shoot spoonbills or 
even teal.”’ 
“Did you ever hear how the spoonbill duck acquired 
the name of spoonbill?’’ asked Jimmy. 
‘“Why, no, I never did; they always have been called 
‘spoonbills,’ so far as I know.”’ 
‘“‘Last spring,’’ said Jimmy, “‘I went down to town 
for a few days to see the boys and take in the Movies. 
One afternoon I went into a grocery store and a lot of 
the boys were sitting round the store, talking ducks, 
and Captain Spooner said—. .. Here come three 
spoonbills now,’’ whispered Jimmy. We didn’t even 
bother to get down but just sat still. The three ducks 
had evidently started from the bunch that still remained 
