148 EXTRACTS FROM NOTE-BOOKS. CH. XXIX. 



middle of the lake or pond, unlike the teal or mal- 

 lard, who invariably, when winged or otherwise 

 wounded, make for the land, if the sportsman keeps 

 out of sight, and endeavour to hide themselves in 

 the grass at the water's edge. Geese, when winged, 

 dive with far greater quickness and facility than 

 would be expected, and I have had very great 

 trouble in catching a wild-goose on a lake after I 

 had knocked her down, although I was rowing in 

 a light and easily-managed boat. Careful observa- 

 tion of the different manner of swimming adopted 

 by the several kinds of wild-fowl when wounded 

 is of the greatest use to the sportsman, saving him 

 and his retriever many a weary and often useless 

 wetting. Even with the best water-dog it is fre- 

 quently of no avail to attempt to catch winged 

 ducks of any kind. In cold weather, when the 

 water is rough and the birds get a good start in an 

 open lake, it is not only loss of time but is cruel 

 to urge your dog to follow them too long. I have 

 often succeeded in bagging winged ducks, widgeon, 

 and teal, by walking round the edge of the lochs 

 an hour or two after I had shot them, as the birds, 

 when left to themselves, the rest of the flock having 

 gone away, either leave the water and hide in the 

 grass, or else come close to the edge. 



It occasionally happens in a small pool that a 



