Sporting Notes in the Far East. 37 



with his bill, and thereby drowning himself; do not, immediately 

 he disappears under water, go dashing off in the supposed direction 

 he has taken, with the idea of seizing him immediately, should he 

 again appear on the surface. It is most useless, and matters are not 

 improved by having the mud stirred up. On the contrary, stand 

 perfectly still ; the duck is just as likely to pop up behind you as 

 not, and on a moderately quiet day, the small gurgle and splash 

 that he makes, as he arrives on the surface, is certain to be heard, 

 and you can then give the "finisher" before the next disappearance. 



Ducks have also, another common artifice when wounded, of 

 escaping detection; and that by sinking their bodies under water, till 

 nothing but the head is seen. I believe this process is undergone 

 by scientific principles. Every duck has inside his body a system of 

 cells which at ordinary times are filled with air ; when a bird wishes 

 to sink himself, he expels a greater part of this air, and thereby 

 lowers his specific gravity, which at once has the desired effect. 



All water-fowl and close strong feathered birds, are easier to kill, 

 although harder to hit, when flying from the shooter ; the shot 

 entering with greater facility, through catching the plumage against 

 the grain. 



If in a boat, approaching duck asleep on the water in the day- 

 time; it will be found better, instead of pulling in the ordinary way, 

 if possible to propel the boat from astern, by means of one oar, 

 used as a " yhulo." 



