MALLARD SHOOTING IN THE TIMBER SPRING. 179 



if the water is deep — up to the calf of the leg 

 or so — for if the sportsman is compelled to se- 

 cure his cripples alone, he may catch his toe 

 under a hidden root or stick when in pursuit of 

 them, and thereby perhaps experience a style of 

 " ducking " not looked for and little to be de- 

 sired. Sometimes, too, he may find good shoot- 

 ing, as I have done, when the buck-brush is so 

 close that the boat cannot be easily pushed 

 through it, and the water perhaps just too deep 

 to wade. In such a case, if he has no retriever, 

 he must leave it and look up another place. 



It is better to collect the dead ducks as fast 

 as killed, as by so doing he will be able to 

 shoot until the last possible moment, not having 

 to quit before dark to find his game. 



Mallard are said by some authors to dive oc- 

 casionally for food in the spring. Though they 

 may, I have never seen them do so, and think it 

 rather unlikely. 



Timber mallard shooting is one of the best 

 of sports. The ducks come sailing so slowly 

 about among the trees, with wings extended, 

 that the veriest novice can hardly fail to hit 

 them, and the experienced sportsman will usually 

 kill his " right and left " easily. To give the 



