ANIMAL KINGDOM. 125 



ponds, and malaria. Such are the attendant difficulties which the 

 sportsman has to encounter and overcome ; in addition to which, 

 he must himself go in search of his game, and collect it when 

 killed. Rainier-shooting, however, may be said to be free from 

 all these drawbacks : the sportsman generally awaits them under 

 some tree the Gommier, or the Suette, for instance whither 

 they flock to feed, in the afternoon or early in the morning : there 

 he stands in keen look-out, for this sport requires a keen eye and 

 steady aim. The birds alight, shots are poured in, and after each, 

 the frightened Ramiers take to flight, but soon to return, again 

 and again, as long as they have not satisfied their craving appe- 

 tite. They are also looked for, during the heat of the day, in the 

 shade, that is to say, in some thick part of the forest, near a 

 rivulet, whither they resort, apparently to enjoy the cool, and it 

 would almost appear, to take their siesta. Being now full, from 

 their morning's feed, after each discharge they flutter to some 

 near tree, where they are easily discovered and followed. The 

 doves are generally killed when feeding on the ground, or on call, 

 in such spots as they frequent for water ; the ortolans, in rice- 

 fields, or in some copse-wood wherein they assemble. Parrots 

 and paroquets are watched at some tree on which they alight to 

 feed the former, however, especially in their sleeping places 

 where a good number may be shot in a short time. 



Marsh-fowling is, on the other hand, irksome and harassing. The 

 crabiers and egrets choosing, generally x some mud-bank, and the fast- 

 ness of some mangrove swamp, as their habitual haunt, cannot be ap- 

 proached with facility, both because they can discover the enemy at a 

 distance, and take to flight in time to escape, and because it is always 

 difficult, if not impossible, to wade through the mud to get a nearer 

 approach. The red ibis and spoon-bill are sought after in the 

 midst of damp natural savannahs, or in lagoons, where they keep 

 along the border of ponds and rivers, always on the look-out, and 

 ready to take wing ; but as they are very heavy in their flight, 

 they are easily shot, whenever within range. Of all our birds, 

 however, the ducks are the most difficult shot, for they are very 

 cunning and extremely fleet, the teal especially. They commonly 

 alight in troops in some secluded pond, in the midst of damp 

 localities or lagoons ; and to approach them it is necessary to walk 

 knee-deep in the mud and waist-deep in the water, or again, to 

 paddle with the greatest precaution in some light canoe. If for- 



