FRENCH HUT-SHOOTING. 403 



Author. Because ducks, when stationary, and not 

 feeding, always sit facing the wind ; or, if in running 

 water, with their breasts against the stream. 



* # * The " Invisible Approach" will be the best of all apparatus 

 for this sport, in places where the ground is not too boggy to admit 

 of either wheeling or carrying it; because with this you have your 

 hut ready made; and a sweeping charge to cut a lane through the 

 fowl. The machine might be left all night, with the gun ready 

 loaded, and the call birds planted. You have then only to steal 

 down in the morning (which is always the time that birds assemble 

 and sit thickest together, while " washing up" or sleeping, after 

 their nightly feed) ; crawl into your den ; take the oakum ball out 

 of your pan ; prick the touch-hole ; prime, and cock : in doing the 

 one, let your pan very quietly down ; and, in doing the other, hold 

 the trigger; or the catch of the scear may spring the birds. Then 

 get back, and lie to your gun ; and, when you find the company 

 swimming to your fancy, pull away. 



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