240 THE WILD-FOWLER. 



thers all which must he uncertain guides : and, as some days are 

 more cloudy than others, it would appear, that the sportsman is often 

 mistaken and misled by such means. 



The only certain and really correct method of judging as to when 

 within range, whilst lying flat on the floor of a punt, is from the 

 bearing of the muzzle of the gun upon the object ahead. Let the 

 gun be once laid in proper range upon the fore-part of the punt ; and 

 experience will show that, as soon as the muzzle is found to cover 

 the object, the trigger may be pulled with certain success. The punter 

 should not wait for the broadside-chance, nor for the colour of the 

 feathers, as either of these may be too late ; he should endeavour to 

 get within range whilst the birds are swimming from him : such is 

 the punter's most deadly chance. 



Wild-duck shooting at night is often attended with considerable 

 uncertainty, even though the punter may be within fifty yards' range 

 of the birds. Wild-ducks are fond of feeding close in-shore, among 

 weeds and grasses ; totally different to widgeon, which feed on the 

 green weed they tear up by its roots, and on other soft substances 

 of the ooze, and the floating refuse of the tide. I have spent 

 many an hour on a cold winter's night within forty and fifty yards 

 of wild-ducks, without being able to discover their exact where- 

 abouts 5 the only guide being the " quack ! " of the mallards : feeling 

 fully convinced that 



" Unwearied patience, persevering toil, 

 Alone can crown the fowler's eager hopes, 

 Whate'er the season or whate'er the sport." 



I have often shot entirely by guess, without seeing a bird, and 

 killed two or three pair ; and I have as frequently shot by guess, 

 without killing a single bird, but with the mortification of seeing 

 forty or fifty rise from the grass within a few feet of the spot where I 

 had supposed them to be feeding. 



If wild-fowl detect the least suspicious noise or movement of the 

 enemy, whilst they are feeding at night, a death-like stillness in- 

 stantly prevails ; when, if they discover no object near them, in a few 

 moments they resume their dabblings. I have sometimes found it 

 answer my purpose to endeavour to find them by making a slight noise, 

 which causes them to stretch their necks, rear their heads, and look 

 around. This manoeuvre, however, requires more than ordinary pre- 

 caution, or it will operate in the very reverse manner to that 

 intended. 



