416 UPLAND SHOOTING. 



shot them from blinds, made of cedar boughs stuck into 

 the mud or sink-boxes. They flew across from place to 

 place, and there were plenty of points where we got pass- 

 shooting, or caught them sitting among our decoys. I 

 wish you could have seen some of those birds. When 

 they fell, and struck the frozen ground, the concussion 

 often split them wide open, they were so fat from feeding 

 on wild celery. 



"I notice many authorities state 'that the widgeon 

 is a daring thief, and robs the canvas-back of its food, 

 after the canvas-back has dived and brought it to the 

 surface.' Now, when it comes to stealing wild celery 

 sprouts, the canvas-back is the biggest thief on record. 

 There used to be another duck associating with the 

 canvas-back. It wasn't the red-head,^ and I don't now 

 recall its name. It was rather a small duck, but a great 

 diver. It used to dive down and bring up the wild celery 

 bulbs and sprouts, but it would no sooner appear than 

 three or four canvas-backs would rush for it, and snatch 

 away the celery. I have seen this done scores of times; 

 and, before one of these ducks could get a decent meal, 

 it would have to supply celery for perhaps half a dozen 

 big, fat, lazy canvas-backs. Am sorry I don't remember 

 the name of this industrious duck, but we never shot 

 them. They were small, with slim bodies, while their 

 bills were long and powerful; besides, they seemed to 

 enjoy pulling up the celery, and left plenty floating 

 around, which enticed the canvas-backs in. 



"You never saw a swivel-gun, did you ? Of course you 

 didn't, for they were before your day; but I tell you, they 

 were murderous things. Just imagine a gun loaded with 

 a couple of pounds of shot, with powder enough to throw 

 it with great penetration. These swivel-guns were used 

 at night, by poachers and men who didn't care how 

 many ducks they destroyed or crippled. The gun was 



