CANVAS-BACK DUCK. 259 



their feeding-grounds. Before they become too 

 wary, at intervals during the day small parties, 

 as though unable to withstand the temptation 

 any longer, get up and fly into these feeding- 

 grounds, when, if the sportsman is prepared for 

 them with plenty of decoys, he may have excel- 

 lent sport and secure a goodly number ; but as 

 it grows later in the season, they learn better, 

 and come in less frequently, content to wait 

 until evening, when, instead of taking to wing 

 and flying in, the whole body swim in cautiously 

 together. The blind for shooting in during the 

 day should be selected with care icJiere they 

 loish to feed — not to one side or the other, or, 

 instead of coming in to the decoys, many may 

 pass by, and drop down out of range where 

 they have found by experience their food growls 

 in greater profusion. 



As to the building of the blind and the ar- 

 rangement of the decoys, both have been fully 

 explained in the chapters especially devoted to 

 those subjects, so I will not repeat them here. 

 I shall, however, add a few hints as to the pe- 

 culiar habits of the ducks when approaching de- 

 coys and at various other times, and will en- 

 deavor to explain how to best apply a know- 



