INTRODUCTION. 



IN presenting this book to the public, it is with the 

 intention of supplying a long felt want, and to furnish, 

 to those who desire such knowledge a complete exposition 

 of the science of Wild Fowl Shooting as applied to in- 

 land waters. The grave responsibility resting on me 

 to successfully complete an undertaking of this charac- 

 ter is fully realized ; for I am aware that with one excep- 

 tion, no American has ever attempted to write a book 

 exclusively on the subject of Wild Fowl Shooting. To 

 do so, and to do it beyond the scope of intelligent 

 criticism, one must be blessed with peculiar opportuni- 

 ties for observation and study, besides possessed of the 

 gift to disclose to others, in a pleasing and instructive 

 manner, the researches of his mind, and the discoveries 

 of a life-time, in the forests and fields, with Nature and 

 birds. 



An inherited love for field sports showed itself in 

 early childhood, and I enjoyed nothing better than to 

 wander through the blossoming fields, along the hill- 

 sides, or sitting at some gurgling brook, splashing my 

 feet in the limpid water, to study animal and animated 

 life. The years glided by, and my desire to learn more 

 of birds grew with me, especially was this the case 

 with wild fowl. I tried to learn of them from books, 



