43^ DUCK SHOOTING. 



looking like clouds, are seen against the yellowing sky, 

 showing where the flocks of birds have begun their 

 flight. Suddenly, low over the water, and nearly at 

 the tail of the decoys, the gunner sees a dark, swiftly 

 moving mass, which presently resolves itself into a 

 flock of a dozen broadbills, which swing over and 

 bunch up to his left, preparing to alight. Just as 

 they come together, he sits up in his box, aims well for- 

 ward, and a little below the leading ducks, and, at the 

 report, three of them fall to the water, while his second 

 barrel accounts for two more which crossed, as the flock 

 turned to fly away. 



The shot was a fortunate one, for all the birds lie 

 still upon the water, and at once begin to drift to lee- 

 ward, under the light breeze. Hardly has the gunner 

 reloaded, and sunk again to a recumbent posture, when 

 he sees, again, to leeward, the swiftly moving wings of 

 a single duck, which comes up over the decoys, and, 

 with erected head feathers, glances this way and that, 

 as if uncertain where to alight, among so many friends. 

 Again the gun rings out, and another bird tosses light- 

 ly, breast upward, on the water. Blackheads and 

 broadbills and tufted ducks are likely to come, through 

 the morning, in small bunches or by twos and threes, 

 and to give good shooting. 



Beside the birds that come into the stools, many 

 bunches will be seen flying high in air — trading birds 

 they are called — which pass over without seeming to 

 notice the counterfeits upon the water ; yet, sometimes, 

 these birds, often canvas-backs or redheads, may be 



