UPI.AiND SHOOTING. "299 



endeavor to catch s[<j;ht of them. I will suppose him fortunate 

 enough to do so, and that they are perfectly unconscious of his 

 near approach. He must lower his head in the same cautious 

 manner, and look f(>r some refuge at a fair distance from the 

 birds, through whicli he may fire the deadly sitting shot. After 

 crawling seipent-like to this, he will again raise his head by 

 hair-breadths, and peeping through the bush or tuft, select the 

 greatest number of birds in line; then drawing back a little, in 

 order that his gun may be just clear of the bush for the second 

 barrel, after having fired the first through it, will take sure aim 

 at his selected victims. SluMild he unfortunately not find an 

 opening to fire through, the only other alternative is by almost 

 imperceptible degrees to raise his gun to the rig!.t of the bush, 

 and close to it ; but in doing this the birds are much more likely 

 to see him and take wing. Never fire over the bush, as you 

 are almost certain to be perceived whenever you raise your 

 head ; more good shots are lost to an experienced hand by a 

 rapid jerk, not keeping a sufficient watch for stragglers, and 

 over-anxiety to fire, than by any other way. Having succeeded 

 in getting the sitting shot, the fowl, especially if they have not 

 seen from whence it comes, will rise perpendicularly in the air, 

 and you are not unlikely to have a chance of knocking down a 

 couple more with your second barrel ; but if they rise wide, 

 you must select the finest old Mallard among them, or whatever 

 suits your fancy. Directly upon hearing the report, your 

 retrie\'er wiU rush to your assistance, and having secured your 

 cripples, you will re-load, and taking out your glass, reconnoitre 

 again ; ior though Ducks, Witlgeon, &c., would fly out upon 

 the loch at the report of your gun, y^'t tlie diver ti-ihe,'* if there 

 are f)nly one or two together, are perhaps moi-e likely to be 

 under water than above when you fire ; but more of them 



* Tl\e divers most common to us are the BufFel-headed Duck, or Butter- 

 Ball ; and the two varieties of Merganser, more commonly known as SkeU 

 drakes — to wliich fowl, it does not, in truth, offer even a remote rnsemblance. 

 The true Sheldrake Anas Tadorna, being a perfect Duck, and not a diver. 



