294 FRANK FORESTER S FIELD SPORTS. 



food of the inland, as distinguished from the ocean Ducks ; but 

 this is, I believe, owing greatly, if not entirely, to its being the 

 best fed of its genus in the regions wherein I have been wont 

 to eat it ; for I understand that on the great lakes, and in the 

 Western country generally, the Blue-winged Teal is regarded 

 as its superior in epicurean qualifications. 



All that hi.d of shooting is now at an end in this district of 

 country ; and although they still abound on the great lakes, 

 along the Canada frontier, and eastward in the British pro- 

 vinces, the vast extent of those inland seas which they there fre- 

 quent, renders it impossible, or at least so difficult as to become 

 irksome, to take them, except by lying at ambush on points over 

 which they fly, and on the woody margins of the forest streams 

 and inlets, which they frequent for the purpose of feeding and 

 roosting. In such localities, where streams, debouching into 

 the great lakes, flow through submerged and swampy wood- 

 lands, the Ducks of all kinds are wont to fly regularly land- 

 ward, in large plumps, or small scattered parties, for an hour or 

 two preceding sundown, — and a good shot well concealed in 

 such a place, with a good doubl-e-gun, loaded with No. 4 up to 

 BB, as may be the nature of his ground, and the species of his 

 game, will frequently return from a single evening's expedition, 

 loaded with twenty or thirty couple of wild-fowl. 



For this sport, however, little or no advice is needed, — a good 

 covert, a heavy gun, and a sufficient charge, are all that can be 

 deemed requisite to success. The sport may, however, be ren- 

 dered both more rapid and mfire exciting, by the introduction 

 of the large Water Spaniel, well broken to fetch, to aid as a 

 retriever. Every true sportsman knows how much zest and 

 enjoyment is added to every kind of field sports, by the adapta- 

 tion to it, and the observation during its continuance, of the 

 instinct and sagacity of trained animals ; and that of the water 

 retriever is inferior to none. He must be trained to absolute 

 muteness, and the most implicit obedience ; he must never stir 

 from the spot in which he is ordered by a quiet gesture of his 

 master's liand to crouch close — nay ! he must not prick his ear, 



