HINTS FOR AMERICAN SHOOTING. 305 



drawers are undoubtedly indispensable, as this material 

 is a bad conductor of heat, and if habituated to it you 

 will experience no increase of warmth ; at the same 

 time it will most effectually absorb the perspiration, and 

 prevent your catching cold. Long boots up to the knee 

 should also be used, as they will effectually guard you 

 against snakes, of which there are no scarcity among 

 the long, rank grass, through which you have fre- 

 quently to walk. To those who may be troubled with 

 tender feet I would advise a little tallow rubbed on the 

 joints before starting in the morning, and a foot-bath of 

 strong salt and water on their return. This method I 

 have never known to fail when strictly attended to. 

 On no account should the sportsman drink the water 

 lying in the low grounds, as fever and ague are in every 

 draught ; but cold tea, or a weak dilution of whiskey and 

 water, will be found a good and serviceable beverage. 

 The former I particularly recommend. 



Immediately after feeding in the morning, and about 

 the time the dew leaves the grass, the birds go to 

 the low and damp grounds, soon afterwards is the 

 proper time to commence the day's sport. From that 

 time, on the edge of the streams or wet ground, till 

 the extreme heat of the day comes, good shooting may 

 be obtained, and also from three o'clock, when the birds 

 again revisit the low grounds, to an hour before sun- 



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