246 PEAIEIE AND FOEEST. 



for them, you can frequently get them against some clear 

 spot in the sky. Frequently I have killed in thirty minutes 

 half-a-dozen of that prince of birds and epicurean dainties, 

 the mallard, in this manner, when it was so dark that, after 

 they had dropped, but for the sagacity of my retriever, I 

 was scarcely aware whether I had correctly aimed. If the 

 evening should be dark and gloomy, with indications of 

 change to cold weather, and a high wind blowing, it will be 

 unnecessary to wait as late as sunset before visiting the 

 feeding ground of the duck ; for, under such circumstances, 

 they come in fearlessly early in the afternoon. However, 

 you cannot practise this worjc successfully without some 

 kind of screen, which will require to be larger and thicker 

 if your clothes do not in colour closely approximate the 

 hue of the ground. 



Brother sportsmen, let me once more advise you to visit 

 the western snipe grounds, and on your return I know I 

 shall receive your thanks for being the means of introducing 

 you to sport that cannot fail to rejoice the heart of every 

 true lover of the dog and gun. 



