358 SHOOTING. 



bank of a pool, or by stalking behind a horse trained 

 to the purpose. 



When the pools are frozen over, wild ducks are 

 found on rivers, wells, and brooks, or in shallow 

 drains and gutters wherein there are springs of 

 fresh water and plenty of water-weeds, amongst 

 which they can wade and feed. The flights being 

 broken, ducks are found singly or only few in num- 

 ber, and are consequently easy of access, and may 

 be shot with a common fowling-piece, the size of 

 shot not being less than No. 2. For this descrip- 

 tion of shooting, the gun should be well charged 

 with powder, and not over- weighted with shot. 

 Wild-fowl are so fortified with down on some parts 

 as to resist any but hard-stricken shot. Their 

 back is the most vulnerable part, and all kinds of 

 wild-fowl present it to the shooter as they rise. 

 They are also easily brought down when they pre- 

 sent a cross shot, but when approaching it is not 

 advisable to fire at them. As the shooter pur- 

 sues the course of a small winding river or brook, 

 he should move on as noiselessly as possible, keep- 

 ing, if practicable, at such distance from the bank 

 that he can command a view of the surface of the 

 water not more than twenty yards before him, or 

 else keep out of sight of the water, except at every 

 turn, when he should appear suddenly on the bank. 

 When there are hollow banks, and willows over- 

 hanging the water, the shooter may occasionally 

 make some noise and look carefully among the 

 willows, where a solitary duck will sometimes let 



