24-i AMERICAN GAME. 



the load is thereby so much the more regularly distrib- 

 uted, and so much the more likely to strike the object, 

 and that in several places more, in the ratio of three or 

 four to one, than could be effected by A's or B's. 

 Second, as the flesh will constantly close over the wound 

 made by a small shot, so as to cause the bleeding to go 

 on internally to the engorgement of the tissues and suf- 

 focation by hemorrhage ; whereas the wound made by 

 the large grain will relieve itself by copious bleeding, 

 and the bird so injured will oftentimes recover, after 

 having fallen even to the surface of the water, or lain 

 flapping, as it were, in the death-struggle on the blood- 

 stained sand or grassy hassocks. This fact has been well 

 noticed, and several examples adduced to prove its 

 truth, by Mr. Giraud, in his exceedingly clear and 

 correct, though to our taste, far too brief volume on the 

 " Birds of Long Island." 



For my own use I invariably adopt for all the smaller 

 species of duck as the two varieties, of Teal, the 

 Summer Duck, the Golden Eye, and the Buffel-heacled 

 Duck, Anates, Carolmensis, Discors, /Sponsa, and Fulir 

 gulcBy Clangula,) and ATbeola the same shot which is 

 generally used for the various birds known on our shores 

 and rivers as bay-snipe, viz : No. 4 or 5 the latter best 

 for the Plovers, the former for duck, whether in large or 

 small guns. In this relation I may observe that, on one 

 occasion the only one, by the way, on which I ever 

 saw a green-winged teal in the summer season I killed 



