DUCK-SHOOTING. 255 



fire, and to determine correctly the speed of the 

 moving object ; to do all these things at once, with- 

 out hesitation or failure in any particular, requires 

 in a man the highest qualities of a sportsman. The 

 wonder is that success is so often attained ; for there 

 are many men who will kill almost every bird that 

 comes fairly within range, and who will tell you before 

 they shoot whether they are sure of killing or not. 



Unfortunately our party, although tolerably pro- 

 ficient, were far from perfect. Many were the fair 

 shots missed, or only half hit, and more still were 

 the impossible shots that were wasted. The wind 

 drove the birds upon the long neck of reeds called 

 Grassy Point, where several of us had located 

 ourselves, and the river-scows, or small boats, oc- 

 casionally passing kept them in motion. 



During the morning several flocks of swans were 

 seen, looking, when they passed in front of a dark 

 cloud, like flying snow-flakes. Although somewhat 

 resembling the appearance of geese, at a distance, 

 the beat of their wings and their trumpet-voiced 

 cry are altogether different. They were very shy, 

 keeping far out of range ; but excited our nerves 

 at the mere thought of what glory would be con- 

 ferred if they should happen to come within the 

 proper distance. 



One of our party, however, acquired but little 

 credit by a shot which he made at a flock of geese 

 that passed within twenty yards of him. He was 

 of Milesian descent, and explained the occurrence 

 afterwards as follows : 



