396 SHOOTING WILDFOWL ON A RIVER, &C. 



Wild-ducks generally come to the same place, 

 unless they have been shot at, or there should be a 

 change of wind and weather. 



It often happens, that wild-ducks, dunbirds, and 

 other fowl, come down at night to large rivers, ponds, 

 or lakes, which are so deeply surrounded by floating 

 reeds, that no one can approach the water ; and the 

 birds, aware of this, do not lower their flight till they 

 come near them. So far from this defying the shooter, 

 it is one of the finest opportunities that can be af- 

 forded for death and destruction. Let him sit, in a 

 small punt or canoe ', fore and aft, among the rushes, 

 where, towards dusk, he will be so completely hid, 

 that he may either shoot at birds flying within pistol 

 shot, or wait for a good chance on the water ; from 

 whence (his boat being hid on each side, and fore- 

 shortened to the only point of mew) he will be pretty 

 sure to escape the observation of the birds. This 

 plan may be resorted to where there are no rushes, 

 such as under the bank of an island, or in a small 

 brook, near which there may be no hiding-place. 

 Here, however, nothing would surpass the French 

 system, for those who had the means of adopting it. 



All these stratagems may become unnecessary, in 

 places which are strictly preserved, and where wild- 

 fowl shooting is interspersed with that of snipes and 

 other birds; but as these places are now but rarely 

 to be met with, I have thought it necessary to dilate 

 at considerable length in the foregoing instructions 

 relative to shooting wildfowl, which are now but 



