OF A RANCHMAN 105 



singled out one, when kept down a shorter 

 and shorter time at each dive ; it soon grew 

 exhausted, was a little too slow in taking a 

 dive, and was grasped in the claws of its 

 foe. 



In duck-shooting where there are reeds, 

 grass and water-lilies the cripples should be 

 killed at once, even at the cost of burning 

 some additional powder, many kinds of wa- 

 terfowl being very expert at diving. Others, 

 as widgeon, shoveller, and teal, do not dive, 

 merely trying to hide in some hole in the 

 bank ; and these are generally birds that fall 

 to the touch of shot much more easily than 

 is the case with their tougher relatives. 



There are two or three species of birds 

 tolerably common over the plains which we 

 do not often regularly hunt, but which are 

 occasionally shot for the table. These are 

 the curlew, the upland or grass plover, and 

 the golden plover. All three kinds belong to 

 the family of what are called wading birds ; 

 but with us it is rare to see any one of them 

 near water. 



