38 Sporting Notes in the Far East. 



As a rule, long before you get properly within shot, they will 

 raise their heads and get restless, do not then get excited and take 

 a long chance shot with the idea of getting no closer, but stop the 

 movement of the oar and remain perfectly still ; they are very 

 lazy and are not as yet seriously alarmed, and instead of getting up 

 will more than likely, turn their backs, and swim slowly away. 

 And now by quietly following, they will allow you to gradually 

 lessen the distance, till within shot. I have found this plan to 

 hold good on several occasions, more especially on hot calm days, 

 but it naturally will not apply to birds, that have lately been fired 

 at. 



When on shore stalking ducks on the water, from the bank, we 

 all know how hard it is, with the ordinary shoulder gun, to kill 

 sleeping birds in this position. Therefore after the stalk is com- 

 pleted, give a slight whistle ; this will make them immediately 

 raise their heads, and will greatly increase the chances of the first 

 shot. 



Of "Flight Shooting"; unless a service man is stationed for some 

 time at a port, where there is good wild-fowl shooting to be had in 

 the vicinity, he will have but few opportunities of indulging in this 

 exciting sport. 



The reason being ; that to the most experienced, it takes a great 

 amount of trouble, besides constant and careful observation, to 

 find the most frequented " duck highways " connecting their daily 



