306 FRANK FORESTER S FIELD SPORTS. 



as the Goosander, Speckled Diver, Sheldrake, &c., require ra- 

 ther different tactics. To get a shot at any of these, you must 

 watch which way they are feeding, and, taking your station 

 somewhat in advance, wait until they pass you ; they will not 

 keep you long, as they are very rapid in their movements. Take 

 care that the water is pretty deep where you place yourself, or 

 they ma)'^ dive at too great a distance from the shore for a shot ; 

 but, after all, they are good for nothing but to be stuffed for a 

 collection. 



" The only other bird that requires a separate notice is the 

 mighty Hooper,* monarch of the flood. To get a shot at the 

 Wild Swan is the great object of the sportsman's desire : he is 

 not naturally so shy a bird as the Wild-duck, but still his long 

 neck, and acute sense of hearing, render gi'eat caution neces- 

 sary. If, as often happens, he is feeding along the shore, you 

 have only to plant yourself in an advantageous situation a good 

 way a -head, and it will not be long before he makes his appear- 

 ance ; but if he is feeding at the mouth of some brook or stream, 

 you must crawl in the same way as when after Wild-ducks. 

 Should you get within a distant shot of a Hoopei, and are not 

 close to the water side, instead of filing from where you are, 

 rush down to the edge of the loch, and before the Swan can 

 take wing, you will have gained ten yards upon him. When 

 the thaw begins after very hard weather, they are almost sure 

 to be feeding at the mouths of any mountain bums that run into 

 the loch. Should you see Hoopers feeding greedily, nearly out 

 of range of your gun, in place of taking the random shot, iry to 

 prevent their being disturbed, and return at dusk of evening, or 

 grey of morning, when they will most likely have come pretty 

 close to the shore, especially if any little rivulets run into the 

 loch near : this rule applies to most water-fowl. If a Swan be 



* This is a different bird from tlie Swan of tlie Chesapeake, Cycmts Ameri- 

 c«nws, though closely cognate. Onr bird never. I fancy, betakes himself to 

 lakes, or the like, within the limits of the United States, though he is said to do 

 «o in the far West, beyond the Missis:..ppi and Rocky Mountains 



