PRESERVING AND LURING THE DUCK 103 



drive. Only by means of experiment can it be ascer- 

 tained what line they are most willing to take when 

 the wind is in any .given quarter, and unless such 

 knowledge be gained disappointment is extremely 

 likely to result when shooting days arrive. If trials 

 are made beforehand by putting the birds on the 

 wing when the wind is in different quarters, the 

 keeper, acting on the knowledge thus gained, will be 

 able to place the guns satisfactorily, or will generally 

 be able to do so. 



Unless there exists natural cover sufficiently 

 dense, blinds must be erected in suitable situations. 

 If only meant to be temporary they should be put 

 up some weeks before the time of shooting begins, 

 for the duck is extremely suspicious of any new 

 feature in the accustomed landscape. It should be 

 ensured beforehand that no strange object shall be 

 in or near the direction the birds are wished to take ; 

 a team at plough, for instance, or a man at work on 

 a hedge, may entirely spoil a drive. The birds, of 

 course, should be sprung as quietly as possible. Let 

 the work be entrusted to a single beater. To the 

 right and left of him, at a distance of 150 yards or 

 so, there should be stops, whose duty it is to remain 

 in cover as long as all is going well, and suddenly to 

 show themselves and endeavour to turn towards the 



