CH. XXXIV. WILD-DUCK SHOOTING. 239 



acquainted with their feeding-places, their drink- 

 ing-places, their resting-places, and in fact with all 

 their habits, at all hours and seasons, and during 

 all changes of the weather : without this know- 

 ledge, which can only be acquired by experience 

 and careful observation, the wild-duck shooter will 

 brave the winter's cold and wind in vain. 



A good sportsman, as regards other game, may 

 live for many a long month in a country abound- 

 ing with ducks without ever seeing one within 

 shot. Continually when I ask people about the wild- 

 ducks in any particular neighbourhood, the answer 

 I get is, " Oh, yes ! there are plenty of ducks, but 

 they always keep out at sea, and never come within 

 reach." Now if there are plenty of ducks out at 

 sea, it is a matter beyond all doubt that at certain 

 hours there are plenty of ducks feeding inland ; 

 and about the time when my informant is dressing 

 for his dinner, the wild-ducks are flying to and fro 

 in search of theirs in the stubble-fields, which they 

 invariably do as soon as the sun sets, and the fields 

 are deserted by the workmen and others. 



As no bird is so easily scared from its usual 

 haunts as the wild-duck, all long and random shots 

 ought to be avoided, as tending to frighten away 

 the birds and to spoil all chance for some time to 

 come in that spot. Ducks, too, are capricious, and 



