MALLARD TIMBER SHOOTING. 109 



When the hunter is among the timber, he must not 

 think that, because all around him there is a perfect 

 sea of water, that one place is as good as another ; for 

 in spite of the plenteousness of water, the seeming same- 

 ness of all places, there is a great difference, and this the 

 ducks know. As the hunter stands on some ridge with 

 water air round him running gently, then again in 

 another place flowing swiftly, he should mark the general 

 direction of the flight, and notice where they are drop- 

 ping in. Possibly, he will think that all through the 

 timber the water is the same ; that the ducks are flying 

 aimlessly around with no object in view, simply delighted 

 at finding so much water. Not so ; they are looking for 

 a feeding spot, a place where sluggish water lies ; where 

 they can swim in any direction without effort, where, 

 thickly strewn in the water, tender willow twigs abound, 

 where, in its shallowness, without diving mallards do 

 not dive for food they can stretch their necks and feel 

 along the ground, or tip up their bodies, stick their bills 

 into the soft mud, dig out the relished acorn, while to 

 sustain them in this position they gracefully stand on 

 their heads, and to keep their balance occasionally fan 

 the air with their broad feet. 



This is the place the hunter should seek, and not 

 rest until he finds it. Be assured it is to be found in 

 the timber, and the ducks will be there waiting for you. 

 When routed out, they will come again, and keep 

 coming. When you look for a spot like this, hunt for 

 high ridges. When most places are overflowed, the 

 swift current will run around them, then quietly steal 

 back behind the protecting ridges in little eddies ; and 

 while the water booms and roars in the river, it is so 

 quiet and still in these places of back water, that leaves 



