WILDFOWLING COSTUME 115 



score or so of semi-wild animals, which have, maybe, spent the 

 whole summer alone and unattended on the marsh or fen, 

 with steaming nostrils and dilated eyes, meet his gaze. This 

 interview, as a rule, does not occupy more than a few seconds, 

 for, with uplifted tails and lowered heads, they make tracks 

 for the apparent usurper of their domains. When last the 

 author was thus situated, a pressing appointment suddenly 

 dawned upon him and he left hastily, without in any way 

 apologising for the abruptness of his departure. 



Thirdly, another plan is the ancient one of the stretched 

 horse or bullock skin (see Fig. IX.). The modus faciendi is as 

 follows : Having obtained the dressed skin, or painted 

 canvas, seam it up where it was originally opened. Cut a 

 slit at the shoulder (or elsewhere, according to fancy) for the 

 protrusion of the gun barrels, distend the figure with the 

 assistance of hoops, sticks or splines, and there it is complete. 

 This latter device is the more convenient, as it can be rolled 

 up, and porterage is thereby greatly facilitated, whilst it is 

 distended at a moment's notice by means of the hoops and 

 sticks. The forelegs are rather substantial ones, and attached 

 to the real hoofs, whilst the legs and body of the shooter form 

 the hinder quarters. The greatest drawback to the device is 

 that one is almost always obliged to walk in a stooping posi- 

 tion, which causes great fatigue, to say nothing of the stiffness 

 one feels in the back for several days afterwards, more par- 

 ticularly if unaccustomed to this mode of sport. 



