308 WILDFOWL SHOOTING. 



only put yourself in a flurry ; and, perhaps, break your 

 ramrod. If your man (knowing you have no gun 

 loaded) says, "Look out, sir!" Why I had almost 

 said knock him down. 



Should the weather be clear, and the birds come in 

 high, your best means for getting a good chance is to 

 conceal yourself in a canoe, between the banks of some 

 small creek ; as they will lower their flight on reaching 

 the mud, and, in all probability, give you as many fair 

 shots as you can fire during their arrival ; which may 

 continue about half an hour. Be careful to shoot well 

 forward, and, if they are fifty or sixty yards above you, 

 at least two or three feet before their heads, with & flint, 

 and about half the distance with a detonater. 



In choosing your station, select either a bank or wall, 

 that divides the sea from detached pieces of water, or 

 marshes, or any other point, which can intercept the 

 flight of the birds from their nightly feed. Should 

 their course be generally up some channel, you may 

 there anchor a boat or two, and either conceal yourself 

 in one of them ; or keep your station for the chance of 

 their turning the birds towards you. 



In rough weather, you may sometimes have sport for 

 the whole day, by digging a masked intrenchment at 

 the extreme end of some promontory, that divides one 

 well-stocked bay from another. 



If the coast becomes too much frequented by shooters, 

 and you can hear of a neighbouring pond or lake, take 

 a walk to it in the course of the day, and see if the 

 birds use it at night. This you will ascertain by going to 

 the leeward side, where you will most likely find some 

 of their feathers, which will have drifted to the edge of 

 the water, and which, in case other shooters may be 



