THE MALLARD 215 



ing a battery, that imitation coffin — which should be a 

 veritable one, if justice had its way, to every man who 

 enters it — and in lying prone in it through the cold 

 days of winter, the market-man may find his pecuniary 

 profit, but the gentleman can receive no pleasure; 

 while the permanent injury inflicted by driving away 

 the ducks from their feeding grounds and making them 

 timorous of stopping at all in waters from any and all 

 portions of which unforeseen foes may arise, is ten 

 times as great as the temporary advantage gained ; and 

 as for calling that sport which is merely the wearisome 

 endurance of cold and tedium to obtain game that 

 might be killed more handsomely, and in the long run 

 more abundantly by other methods, is an entire mis- 

 application of the word.'* 



In shooting mallards a dog is quite necessary — a re- 

 triever of course. The water-spaniel, or the Chesa- 

 peake Bay dogs, are the best. A wounded mallard 

 will, without a dog, most often escape by skulking 

 and hiding in the grass. A good retriever should lie 

 down in the boat or blind and remain motionless un- 

 til ordered to retrieve. I have often observed the 

 bright eye of one of these intelligent animals observ- 

 ing ducks when they were far away and before I had 

 discovered them. They take great delight in the 

 sport and endure much hardship and are deserving of 

 the best of care ; a dog-coat or blanket when the day 

 is done, another to lie upon when they come in from 

 the freezing water. 



Their fine noses enable them to follow and secure 

 the birds which hidS in the grass. They swim rapidly 

 and overtake the wounded on the open water. They 



