RECOVERING FOWL. 363 



Even on the ooze the farthest cripples must be taken 

 first, and then those nearest, not omitting a search 

 in every likely little creek and hollow where a bird 

 could creep. Should one be seen lying motionless, 

 with outstretched neck and body but shining eye, 

 step back and make sure of him as he lies at a fair 

 range. These crafty schemers nearly always rise, 

 and what with panting from work and hard walking 

 the hand will shake, and the result be a clean miss. 

 Never attempt to carry more than a few fowl over 

 the ooze on your back, or they will handicap both 

 shooting and walking, and, if the ooze be soft, cause 

 every step to sink deeper till you at last come to a 

 standstill.* Put the birds into a net-bag and drag 

 them along, or carry them in one hand so that they 

 can be dropped at once, to take a sudden shot at a 

 cripple jumping up suddenly. A bag made of strong 

 tanned net, closely meshed, is light and small when 

 not in use ; canvas and other materials get hard, 

 take up space, heat the contents, and, lastly, smell 



with a paddle, knocking eyes out, and heads to pieces, is a brutal 

 exhibition, and ruinous to their appearance. He might as well slice 

 the head off a salmon or trout to keep it from kicking when grassed. 

 Birds will keep at least two days longer if hung by the head ; tie 

 them together by the necks (the legs slip out), and so sling them in 

 couples across a line. Decoymen have, or had, a method of placing 

 the feathers of one wing of a Duck through those of the other, so that 

 the bird could not struggle or fly away, did they wish to keep it alive 

 and unhurt. 



* Stooping, carrying, chasing, walking, and firing for half an hour 

 after but a score of birds on even tolerably firm ooze, is about as hard 

 a bit of exercise as a man can undergo. A dog would there be most 

 useful were he not a very abomination in a punt, wet, cold, shivering, 

 anxious, arid much in the way at all times. The better trained and 

 keener he is, the more he will whine and fret, when drawing within 

 shot a habit that cannot be cured. If coming down wind, the fowl 

 will scent him, and their attention will be directed to your approach . 



