206 WILD-FOWL SHOOTING. 



So long as the shooter confines himself to points 

 of land or sedge, whether he uses decoys or awaits 

 the accidental passage of the birds, he not only per- 

 mits himself a change of position and sufficient motion 

 to keep his blood in circulation, but he allows the 

 frightened flocks that have already lost several of 

 their number in running the gauntlet, a secure 

 retreat in the open waters, and undisturbed rest at 

 meal time. And so long as this is granted them they 

 will tarry, and trust to their sharp eyes and quick 

 ears to save their lives ; but when they cannot feed 

 in peace, and, when they can find no haven of safety 

 in the broad expanse of water, they will inevitably 

 continue their migration, and seek more hospitable 

 quarters. 



Wild-fowl shooting, as pursued at the West, or 

 even at the South, is glorious and exhilarating ; 

 there the sportsman has exercise, or the assistance 

 of his faithful and intelligent retriever, and is re- 

 quired to bring into play the higher powers of his 

 nature. He manages his own boat, or he stands 

 securely upon the firm ground, and if he has not a 

 canine companion, chases his crippled birds and re- 

 trieves the dead ones by his own unaided efforts. 



At the West, although the vast numbers do not 

 collect that congregate in the Chesapeake Bay and 

 Currituck Inlet, there is an independence in the 

 mode of pursuit that has a peculiar charm ; and from 

 the facilities afforded by the nature of the ground, 

 the excellent cover furnished by the high reeds, and 

 the immense number of single shots, the average 



