DUCK-SHOOTING. _ 255 
fire, and to determine correctly the speed of the 
moving object ; to do all these things at once, with- 
out hesitation or failure in any particular, requires 
in aman the highest qualities of a sportsman. The 
wonder is that success is so often attained ; for there 
are many men who will kill almost every bird that 
comes fairly within range, and who will tell you before 
they shoot whether they are sure of killing or not. 
Unfortunately our party, although tolerably pro- 
ficient, were far from perfect. Many were the fair 
shots missed, or only half hit, and more still were 
the impossible shots that were wasted. The wind 
drove the birds upon the long neck of reeds called 
Grassy Point, where several of us had located 
ourselves, and the river-scows, or small boats, oc- 
casionally passing kept them in motion. 
During the morning several flocks of swans were 
seen, looking, when they passed in front of a dark 
cloud, like flying snow-flakes. Although somewhat 
resembling the appearance of geese, at a distance, 
the beat of their wings and their trumpet-voiced 
cry are altogether different. They were very shy, 
keeping far out of range; but excited our nerves 
at the mere thought of what glory would be con- 
ferred if they should happen to come within the 
proper distance. 
One of our party, however, acquired but little 
credit by a shot which he made at a flock of geese 
that passed within twenty yards of him. He was 
of Milesian descent, and explained the occurrence 
afterwards as follows: 
