THE PINTAIL DUCK AND THE SHOVELLER 225 



like this much longer, for I can feel the back set o' 

 the tide wobblin'. Let go, hit or miss." 



Once more I aimed, and pulled. Just as the 

 trigger was pressed the skiff rose, and so did the 

 Pintails. I had shot over them ; a clean miss it was. 



" What luck?" 



" None." 



The way that skiff swung round and reached shore 

 at racing speed was a caution. Some people write 

 about fowling as if it were bird-slaughter. If they 

 had known what it is to feel a skiff or punt quiver 

 under one, and to have to clench one's teeth to keep 

 them from chattering, they might have written 

 differently on fowling matters. Imagination is a 

 very good horse to ride, if kept under control ; 

 but when he takes the bit between his teeth and 

 runs away with his rider, the spectacle affords some- 

 times a considerable amount of fun for those who 

 look on. 



That handsome duck, the Shoveller, frequents the 

 marshes and lagoons. Its large bill is formed for 

 sifting, spattering, and surface - skimming ; and 

 shallow waters with plenty of cover are necessary 

 for its well-doing. It has been taken in the decoys 

 during hard weather, as then various species will 

 mix up, that is, they will for a time follow other 

 fowl in their fly-lines in order to procure food, 

 knowing that when fowl go regularly in a certain 

 direction, at certain times, food is what they go 

 there for. 



Compared with the size of the Shoveller's weak 



Q 



