68 SHOOTING THE DVCK 



criticise the contrivance, which certainly is somewhat 

 suggestive of a Sunday expedition in search of gibier, 

 The laugh, however, is on the other side when the 

 man with the sling has both hands free to help him 

 in surmounting the rough side of a creek or other 

 obstacles, or to carry home his game, or to put com- 

 fortably away in his pockets during long spells of 

 inactive waiting, or when he is able to relieve his 

 arms in a moment from the weight which is beginning 

 to tell upon them. 



Scarcely less important to the duck-shooter than 

 the question of gun and ammunition is that of cloth- 

 ing. First, he must be clad to resist wet and cold. 

 Flannel unequalled among wearing material for 

 lightness and warmth combined and plenty of it, 

 should serve for all under-garments and for the lining 

 of all outer ones, these being preferably of water- 

 proof tweed. Linen anywhere on the body is an 

 abomination. When punting, or when the sports- 

 man will have much waiting about, a fisherman's 

 jersey of the heaviest kind should be worn over the 

 shirt. A cashmere scarf should take the place of a 

 collar. In wet weather, unless one be walking, oil- 

 skins should be worn, and the cap should have a 

 waterproof covering. Well-oiled leather boots are 

 more satisfactory in every way than india-rubber 



