3©0 FRANK forester's FIELD SPORTS. 



" Another invariable rule in crawling upon Ducks is always, 

 if possible, to get to the leeward of them ;* for although I am 

 firmly of opinion that they do not wind you like deer, as some 

 suppose, yet their hearing is most acute. I have seen instances 

 of this that I could hardly otherwise have credited. One day I 

 got within about sixty yards of three Ducks asleep upon the 

 shore ; the wind was blowing very strong, direct from me to 

 them, a thick hedge forming my ambuscade. The ground was 

 quite bare beyond this hedge, so I was obliged to take the dis- 

 tant shot through it : in making the attempt, I rustled one of 

 the twigs — up went three heads to the full stretch, but when I 

 had remained quiet for about five minutes, they again placed 

 their bills under their wings ; upon a second trial, the slight 

 noise was unfortunately repeated : again the birds raised their 

 heads ; but this time they were much longer upon the stretch, 

 and seemed more uneasy. Nothing now remained but to try 

 again ; my utmost caution, however, was unavailing, the birds 

 rose like rockets. I never hesitate concealing myself to wind- 

 ward of the spot, where I expect Ducks to pitch, feeling confi- 

 dent that, imless I move, they will not find me out. I have 

 often had them swimming within twenty-five yards of me, when 



* " If you have also a bright sun at your back, and in their eyes, your advan- 

 tage is great ; but should the sun and wind favor opposite directions, let the 

 nature of the ground decide your advance. 



" I was last winter shooting wild-fowl with a gamekeeper who firmly held the 

 common notion of their keen noses. We saw a flock of about twenty pitched 

 upon a long point, and no possibility of approaching them except directly to 

 windward. " Now, sir," says the keeper, " if youMl stalk these Ducks so as to 

 get a good shot, I'll never care for their noses again I" They had the full 

 benefit of the wind as it blew pretty strong, but there was some soft snow on 

 the ground, which I knew would prevent their hearing ; so I took him at his 

 word, killed three with my first barrel, and had they not been intercepted by 

 the trees and bushes, would have knocked down at least one more with my 

 second. The keeper has said ever since that their noses are not worth a straw: 

 my decided advice, however, is not to stalk wild-fowl to windward, if it can be 

 avoided ; for should the snow be at all crisp with frost, or if there are many 

 twigs and bushes to crawl through, their noses become acute enough ! I !" 



