The Wild-Fowlers 15 1 



coming from the places it frequents in 

 feeding. Besides, the practice is in vogue 

 in April as well as during all the autumn 

 and winter months, and this is a ruinous 

 law. No migratory game no game of 

 any sort should be bagged in the spring 

 of the year, when they are mating and 

 preparing to breed. All forms of game 

 shooting should be limited to the fall and 

 winter periods. Even this restriction 

 would not save many important species 

 from being exterminated, the same as the 

 American bison, the beaver, and the wild 

 pigeon were destroyed. But, while I 

 think of it, another point about battery 

 shooting the trick the birds have of 

 getting right into the decoys without 

 your seeing their approach. Of course, 

 many come from behind you, and the 

 rule of lying flat on your back prevents 

 you from keeping a lookout in this direc- 

 tion, but the number of bunches, large 

 flocks, pairs, and single birds that come 

 from the very direction your face is 



