282 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. 



much shot at ; but if severe weather, with ice and snow 

 set in, they soon forget the caution gained by previous 

 experience. 



The number of these ducks that are annually killed is 

 surprising, the greatest slaughter amongst them being 

 made from sink boats, a species of box which is sunk in 

 the water till within a few inches of its level ; to prevent 

 the splash coming on board it has immense wings on 

 either side which lay on the surface of the water, and which 

 are studded over with innumerable decoys. 01' course it 

 must be understood that this infernal machine is anchored, 

 'the gunner lying on his back and shooting upwards as the 

 game hover over his head. Such experts have many of 

 these Chesapeake wild fowl shooters become, that they 

 seldom put their gun to the shoulder. 



Over decoys which are placed off points in the line of 

 their flight, large numbers can be killed. Many repudiate 

 this shooting, even condemn it ; in this T cannot agree, for 

 quick shooting and great skill in management are required. 



Again, they are killed flying over dips in the land, when 

 moving from one feeding-ground to another ; the large 

 gun's utility then shows itself. (For detailed account, see 

 Afloat and Ashore.) 



The hospitality of Marylanders is proverbial ; the 

 shooting in their State is excellent, so a sojourn there is 

 certain to be conducive of much pleasure to the sportsman. 



PIN-TAILED DUCK. 



Sprig-tailed, pheasant, long-tailed, and pin-tailed duck 

 are the names by which these handsome birds are known 



