CORN-FIELD MALLARD SHOOTING. 71 



there are no shocks, throw an old rubber blanket on 

 the ground, dress in yellow canvas or corduroy ; lie 

 down flat, sprinkle stalks slightly over the limbs and 

 body, and rise, shooting from a sitting position when 

 firing. Avoid, under all circumstances, building a 

 high, conspicuous blind, for you are dealing with birds 

 ever on the alert and always suspicious. Should the 

 ground be covered with snow, your dress should be 

 white. Suits worn by plasterers are the best on such 

 occasions. Decoys may be used with great success, 

 but don't call to circling ducks. They do not want to 

 be called into the corn-field, for while feeding, they do 

 not call to one another. Depend more on your decoys, 

 and when you think flying ducks will hear the sound, 

 glue the end of your tongue to the roof of your mouth, 

 and click to them. This is the noise they make in 

 feeding. The best blinds are pits dug into the ground 

 as described in " Canada goose shooting." Dead ducks 

 should be set up as decoys, as fast as killed, until one 

 has quite a flock. If you have no dog, start for a crip- 

 pled duck before it strikes the ground. It is almost im- 

 possible to find them in a corn-field when crippled. 

 Everything looks alike. Nos. 4 and 5 are the best sizes 

 of shot to use. The birds will usually be killed at 

 long range, and good-sized shot and plenty of strong 

 powder are necessary. Always have at hand some 

 shells loaded for geese. This is also their feeding place 

 and the time of year for them, and it will be no occa- 

 sion for surprise if you pick up two or three any time. 



