

CHAPTER XXII 



WILD FOWL SHOOTING. 



"But hark! what sound is that approaching near? 

 'Down close.' Tlie Wild Ducks come, and, darting down. 

 Throw up on ev'ry side the troubl'd wave ; 

 Then gavly swim around with idle play." 



THIS AMUSEMENT IN AMERICA. 



This amusement, thougli not as popular, or followed with tlie 

 same zest by the Sportsmen of America as it is by those of 

 England and other countries, is nevertheless every season at- 

 tracting increased attention to its real merits as a manly and 

 exciting sport. And no doubt, as the conveniences for visiting 

 our bay and sea-shores become more widely diffused through- 

 out the various portions of our Atlantic States, by the opening 

 of new steamboat and railroad routes, that our pleasure-loving 

 and novelty-seeking people will flock to the secluded haunts of 

 the Wild FoAvl much more generally than they do at present. 

 When a fondness for this kind of sport is once awakened 

 among us, we may expect to see our Shooters excel those of 



