234 



THE WILD-FOWLER. 



The frontispiece will explain the proceedings at a cripple chase 

 after firing- 1 \ Ibs. shot, from the stanchion-gun aboard the sailing- 

 boat, at a team of wild-ducks. The cripples are being pursued by 

 three amateurs in a rowing*-boat : whilst the sailing-boat is also 

 engaged in the same pursuit, a herd of wild-swans are observed 

 passing over the yacht, and the stanchion-gun not being re-loaded, 

 the wild-fowler takes a pop at them with a shoulder-piece, bringing 

 down a fine full-grown cygnet. 



All web-footed birds, when first wounded, swim into deep water ; 

 then, if they are not pursued (as is often the case at night), they 

 soon afterwards make for the lee-shore, the smarting pain of their 

 wounds being irritated by the salt-water : and instinct seems to tell 

 them that the pain can only be alleviated by rest ashore. Waders, 

 such as curlews, plovers, and the like, always avoid deep water when 

 wounded, and make direct for the land. 



I have often been surprised at the wonderful dexterity displayed 

 by wounded wild-fowl, and the extraordinary manner in which they 

 evade their pursuers, by contriving to keep under water ; particularly 

 shovellers, duck, and widgeon. The mallard is not so expert at 

 manoeuvring as the duck, which, when only winged or slightly 

 wounded so as to be unable to fly, often puzzles the oldest gunners. 

 If the water is calm and the surface smooth, by following up the 

 wounded duck quickly and closely, when it dives, it may generally 

 be captured after a few minutes' chase ; but if there is a ripple upon 

 the surface, the chances are fifty to one that it will escape, more 

 especially if by the side of an ooze-bank, on which weeds grow under 

 water : there will the wounded duck hide, holding itself under 

 water a considerable time, then rising to the surface a moment to 

 breathe and mark the course taken by its pursuers, showing nothing 

 but its head above water, down it goes again, gradually creeping 

 farther and farther from the punter, who frequently gropes about in 

 wild astonishment, and is at last obliged to abandon the pursuit.* 

 I always find it a very good plan in shallow water, to stir the bottom 

 with one of the punt oars, near the spot where the bird was last seen 



* The late Lord Chancellor Erskine, it would seem, was very familiar with the 

 difficulties of the cripple chase. He once humorously remarked in the House of 

 Lords, in allusion to the frequent minorities of the Ministerial party, in the year 

 1810 : "It reminds me strongly of shooting wild-fowl in a large lake ; for, though 

 you are fortunate enough to knock them down, it is extremely difficult to get them 

 out." Vide PcwZ. Deb., 1810. 



