238 EXTRACTS FROM NOTE-BOOKS. CH. XXXIV. 



covered with masses of snow, which the wind had 

 not been powerful enough to dislodge. 



Before the ice and snow break up on the higher 

 grounds of the river, there is generally plenty ot 

 wild-fowl shooting about the open pools near the 

 sea. At the commencement of snow the birds are 

 usually tame enough to make the sport good, and 

 with the assistance of my retriever I often bring 

 home a heavy bagfull of ducks, &c. ; but without a 

 retriever, and a good one too, wild-duck shooting is 

 utterly useless anywhere. 



In wild-fowl shooting more than in any other 

 kind of sporting, a perfect knowledge of the ground 

 and of the different haunts of the birds is indispens- 

 able. The sportsman must make himself acquainted 

 with their feeding-places, their drinking-places, their 

 resting-places, and in fact with all their habits, at 

 all hours and seasons, and during all changes of the 

 weather : without this knowledge, which can only 

 be acquired by experience and careful observation, 

 the wild-duck shooter will brave the winter's cold 

 and wind in vain. 



A good sportsman, as regards other game, may 

 live for many a long month in a country abound- 

 ing with ducks without ever seeing one within 

 shot. Continually when I ask people about the wild 

 ducks in any particular neighbourhood, the answer 



