WILD DUCK 297 



even in large flocks, and give him plenty of shooting 

 for about a quarter of an hour. For this sport a quick 

 eye and good hearing are essential, as the first indica- 

 tion of the wild ducks' approach is usually the whistling 

 of their wings, especially on a still day. The mouth 

 of a river, where it runs into a lake, is an ideal place 

 for "flight-shooting," and every variety of wild fowl can 

 be shot in this way, as, during stormy weather, wigeon 

 and teal will often come inland to feed, the former of 

 which can readily be distinguished by their shrill whistle. 

 The more stormy the night and morning, the better 

 chance one has, as the birds fly lower, and are not so 

 easily frightened away by a shot. 



Nowadays, when duck are so much reared by hand, 

 it is possible, as has been explained above, to keep them 

 near the streams or ponds where they have been brought 

 up. One rule, however, should be observed with regard 

 to shooting wild duck if they are to be expected to 

 remain, i.e. not to shoot them in or near these streams 

 where they have been reared. Let these be sanctuary, 

 as it were, for them, and then they will be found to 

 return to these places again in the evening, as if being 

 shot at were the most natural and harmless thing in 

 the world. Supposing that there are two or three of 

 these sanctuaries (which there should be if there be a 

 large number of birds), let a man be stationed near each 

 to frighten the birds away as they try to settle ; then 

 they will fly round and round, gradually rising higher 

 in the air, and will give the guns plenty of shooting for 



