WILD-DUCK SHOOTING. 239 



objects of their deeper research are water insects, which are always 

 abundant at that particular season. 



It is by no means unusual in the early part of winter to find large 

 paddlings of mallards unaccompanied by ducks. It would seem to 

 be very ungallant on the part of the male birds to leave their com- 

 panions behind them on the voyage of migration, but so it is the 

 mallards leave the north earlier than the ducks, which generally 

 remain with their young until the severity of the frost compels them 

 to proceed to a more southern climate. 



Wild-ducks are generally very wary by daylight, particularly after 

 having been once shot at. When pursued by the punter they swim 

 fastly away, sitting in a sunken position, with breasts and bodies deep 

 in the water, and with necks well-doubled and heads down close upon 

 their breasts : in running water they always sit with their breasts to 

 the stream. Any wild-fowl shooter, of tolerable experience, can dis- 

 tinguish wild-ducks from widgeon or other wild-fowl, whether on the 

 wing or swimming on the water 5 and this too at a considerable 

 distance. A few moments before taking wing they lift their heads, 

 and rise buoyantly upon the surface ; they then turn round, head to 

 wind, presenting a broad-side to the punter; and, unless stopped by 

 his shot, they instantly rise from the water. The critical moment for 

 pulling trigger is just as they emerge from their sunken attitude, and 

 before they turn round head to windward, if possible. Many sportsmen 

 make it a rule to wait for the other opportunity before pulling trigger, 

 and say the birds present, at that instant, the fairest mark for a shot : 

 it may be they do so, but it is nevertheless decidedly wrong to 

 wait for the broad-side chance, unless the punter intends to fire at 

 them on the wing ; in which case he is perfectly correct to wait until 

 the last moment, so as to get as near them as possible. 



Although the objects appear larger on the water when their broad- 

 sides are presented to the punter, it is an indisputable fact that a less 

 number can be killed when in that position than when swimming 

 directly away, with their tails towards the gun. This fact I have 

 proved by experience, over and over again; but I know several 

 punters who always wait for the broadside chance. 



The key-stone to success in wild-fowl shooting is the art of being 

 a correct judge of distance. Some punters reckon their range by the 

 space of water between the birds and the punt ; others never shoot 

 until they can distinctly discern the eye of one or more of the birds ; 

 others wait until they can clearly distinguish the colour of the fea- 



