14n FRANK forester's FIELD SPORTS. 



under, and however calm, cannot be seen again. To give an 

 idea of the extreme rapidity with which a Duck can dive, I will 

 relate an occurrence which was noticed by myself, and a similar 

 one was observed by another of the party the same day. 



" A male South-southerly was shot at in the water by a per- 

 cussion-gun, and after escaping the shot by diving, commenced 

 his flight. When about forty yards from the boat, he had ac- 

 quired an elevation of a foot or more from the surface. A 

 second percussion-gun was discharged, and he dived from the 

 wing at the flash, and though the spot of entrance was covered 

 by the shot, soon rose unharmed and flew. 



" Canvass-backs, when wounded on the streams near the bay, 

 instantly direct their course for it, and there nestle among the 

 grass on the shores till cured, or destroyed by Eagles, Hawks, 

 Gulls, Foxes, or other veiTnin, that are constantly on the search. 

 If a dead Canvass back be not soon secured, it becomes a prey 

 to the Gulls, which rarely touch any other kind. I have seen 

 severe contests between crippled Canvass-backs and Gulls ; and 

 although a pounce or two generally prevents further resistance, 

 sometimes they are driven off". If the bird is remarkably sa- 

 vory, the Gull makes such a noise, that others are soon collected, 

 when possession is determined by courage or strength. 



" Another mode of taking Ducks, consists in placing gilling- 

 nets under water on the feeding-grounds, and when they dive 

 for food, their head, and wings become entangled in the meshes 

 and they are drowned. This plan, though successful at first, 

 soon drives the birds from these places ; and in some cases a 

 few applications have entirely prevented their return for weeks. 

 Paddling upon them by night or day produces the same effect, 

 and although practised to some extent on Bush River, is highly 

 disapproved of by persons shooting from points. For the last 

 three years a man has been occupied on this stream with a gun 

 of great size, fixed on a swivel in a boat, and the destruction of 

 game on their feeding flats has been immense ; but so unpopu- 

 lar is the plan, that many schemes have been privately proposed 

 of destroying his boat and gun ; and he has been fired at with 



