Wood- Duck and Wood- Duck Shooting 217 



It is indeed pretty sport, and none too easy, for 

 only a smart and accurate shot can hope to excel 

 at it. The surroundings, too, almost invariably are 

 very pretty, for the winding water every few minutes 

 reveals a new vista of noble trees and drooping 

 vines. Occasionally, a small flock of ducks, hum- 

 ming downstream, dart around a bend without the 

 slightest warning. Then is the moment for the 

 swift man who can let go with one hand and take 

 hold with the other, and shoot without bothering 

 about getting the gun to his shoulder. 



The first flight of wood-ducks from the streams 

 usually extends no farther than to the nearest rice 

 marshes. There they frequent the lily-choked 

 ponds, especially those which have a few old rat 

 houses. The wood-duck seems to love the top of 

 an old rat house, presumably because it is apt to be 

 the most convenient place for a sun bath. The 

 marsh ponds can best be reached by pushing, i.e. 

 propelling the canoe by means of a long punting 

 paddle which may be set against submerged roots 

 and other tolerably firm stuff. 



Next to jumping, I prefer flight, as follows. So 

 soon as the young ducks are able to fly strongly, 

 they are apt to start about sunrise and go far up 

 the stream to some special feeding-ground, or it may 

 be their night resort in some small pond in field, or 

 wood, or some particular cove of a stream. To 

 these they return about sunset, straggling in singly, 

 by pairs, and now and then a whole brood together. 

 A man properly placed beside the night resort may 

 enjoy perhaps half an hour's shooting of the live- 

 liest description. Again there may be half-a-dozen 



