DUCK-SHOOTING IN THE EAST INDIES. 165 



Some of the birds were lying close under the rocks, 

 and here I got a couple of duck right and left. My 

 shikari made rather a fuss about going in, saying there 

 were muggurs (alligators), which I am sure was not 

 the case. At last, however, he went in and fetched out 

 several of my birds. At the top of the tank, where it 



became a mere creek, I met B , and by following the 



creek a little way we each got a teal. Then we cut 

 over to my old creek again, I forget with what result, 

 and finally came up together to where that creek and 

 the main water met. 



All the birds we could see were a long way out. 

 I believe every bird has a very fair notion of the 

 range of a gun, but their ideas are conservative. 

 Consequently a choke-bore is a little beyond them 

 at present. On this occasion a coral-billed drake was 

 lying some way out from the point on which we were 

 standing. 



" I wonder if the choke-bore would reach that 

 fellow?" I said. 



" Never/' was B 's answer ; " he's a hundred 



yards out." 



" Eighty, I should say, but it's very difficult to 

 judge over water. I shall try anyway." So saying I 

 put up my gun, aiming well over the drake, and let 

 him have my left barrel medium choke. 



Almost without a flutter he dropped his handsome 

 head, dead. We waited a little while for the wind to 

 drift him in to us. Then the shikari waded out for 

 him, and we adjourned to breakfast. 



Although it was nearly midwinter, the Indian sun 



