S78 



In fen shooting, the principal object is the wild duck ; it is 

 true, wigeon and teal are frequently met with ; and at certain 

 seasons all those birds which I have described under distinct 

 heads ; and as wild ducks generally breed in and frequent marshy 

 places, the sportsman has, of course, to pursue his game in situ- 

 ations where wet feet seem unavoidable, unless the marshes will 

 admit small boats, which renders the diversion of duck shooting 

 much more pleasant. This, however, is not always the case ; 

 and some sportsmen attempt to preserve their legs and feet from 

 the water by enormous boots,* which are very fatiguing as well 

 as uncomfortable. I have uniformly found that wet feet are of 

 little consequence while the sportsman keeps moving about; but 

 the moment he arrives at any place where he intends to stop for 

 a time, he should always put on a pair of dry stockings, and also 

 a pair of dry shoes, with which he should take care to provide 

 himself, if at any distance from home. 



For the diversion of duck-shooting, a water-spaniel, which has 

 been taught to fetch and carry, will answer the purpose as well 

 perhaps as any other kind of dog ; though I use an old pointer 

 bitch, which was never taught to fetch and carry, or to take the 

 water, and yet a better animal for the purpose just mentioned 

 cannot exist. The first day I took her into the field upon a 

 shooting excursion, I happened to kill a bird as it flew across a 

 pit. I had two other pointers with me, that had been shot over 

 several seasons, that I could not, after every kind of entreaty, 



* In order to render them hi pervious or water- proof, see receipts at 

 the end of the volume. 



