WILD-FOWL SHOOTING. 217 
ducks, one ounce and a quarter of No. 4 or 5, and 
perhaps No. 3 late in the season, and of No. 1 or 2 
for geese, driven out of the ordinary field-gun by 
three and a half drachms of powder, will be found 
preierable. I say a field-gun, because, although the 
heavy duck-gun, with its enormous charge of six 
drachms of powder and three ounces of shot, is 
undoubtedly more killing when discharged into 
large flocks, the waste of ammunition would be 
immense were it used at the scattering flight of 
the western country. 
Many kinds of wild-fowl will, like bay-snipe, be 
attracted by an imitation of their cry; and, when 
decoys are used, the mastery of these calls is neces- 
sary to the proficiency of the bayman. But at the 
West, where the use of decoys is not customary, 
and where the nature of the ground prevents full 
advantage being obtained from these devices, a 
knowledge of the art is not so necessary. Never- 
theless, there is something thrilling in the “honk” 
of the wild goose; when it is heard, the sportsman 
is earnest in his efforts to imitate it, and if suc- 
cessful—which he often is, for the bird responds 
readily—is not only proud of the result, but amply 
rewarded for his skill. 
In shooting from any species of cover, when ducks 
are approaching, it is more important not to move 
than to be well hid; the slightest motion startles 
and alarms the birds, that would-possibly have ap- 
proached the sportsman in full view if he had re- 
mained motionless. If they are suddenly perceived 
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