2o6 A YEAR OF SPORT AND NATURAL HISTORY. 



stopping when found and flushed is a fact incontrovertible. It 

 has been estimated that a mallard's aerial speed is from forty-five 

 to fifty miles an hour. Allowing an initial velocity of 1800 to 

 2000 feet per second for small shot, the sportsman must obviously 

 hold well ahead in shooting at ducks on the wing. Flapper- 

 shooting cannot be likened in simplicity to rat-hunting or to shell- 

 ing peas. It is sufficiently difficult to be fascinating ; its surround- 

 ings are usually romantic ; it is worthy of the casual attention of 

 the most expert and fastidious sportsman ; and it is neither so 

 dangerous as big game shooting, nor so arduous as the pursuit 

 of the stag, the grouse, or even the partridge. 



