DUCK-SHOOTING. 263 
tediluvian ages, were seen in the water, but are only 
taken in the net. 
The weather had been clear, mild, and still; it 
continued so for several days, and as storm and 
wind are necessary to duck-shooting, our sport, al- 
though pleasant, was greatly diminished. Conse- 
quently we rose at reasonable hours, ate comforta- 
ble breakfasts, and smoked our pipes before we left 
the house. One morning, as I was about departing, 
the Kentucky fisherman, who had found the weather 
admirable for his sport, offered to bet ten of the 
largest fish he would eatch against the largest bird 
I should shoot, that I would not kill a dozen ducks. 
Of course I accepted the wager. 
It was unpromising weather, still and warm, and 
there was absolutely no flight either durmg the 
morning or evening; but by chance two cormo- 
rants came close to my stand. Without waiting 
to distinguish what they were I fired, killing one 
dead, and dropping the other some distance off in 
the open water. My disgust on picking up the one 
nearest, and observing the thick legs, ugly shape, 
and crooked yellow bill, was only diminished by the 
recollection of my bet. I lost, failing in the end to 
bring home the dozen birds—although I shot more 
than that number, but was unable to recover several 
that fell in the weeds—and on my return, using that 
fact as an excuse, endeavored to beg off. The Ken- 
tuckian was delighted ; imagining from my conversa- 
tion that I had shot a canvas-back, and anticipating an 
amusing triumph, he insisted upon the letter of the law. 
