PIN-TAIL DUCK. 223 



bird, so deliberately wrings its neck, and then throws it 

 at his feet in the blind. 



In spite of their extreme wariness and their propen- 

 sity to fly so high, they decoy nicely. They are on 

 the best of terms with the mallard family, and at times 

 travel with them, feed with them and roost with them. 

 The pin-tail decoys are so neutral in appearance that it 

 is not advisable to use them ; besides, they must be 

 natural, and to create that naturalness their necks 

 must be slim. This means constant accidents by break- 

 ing necks off. As they associate so much with mallards, 

 mallard decoys are the best to use, and as one wiH 

 usually be shooting in shjfllow waters, it is better to 

 stick up some of the dead pin-tails for decoys. How 

 this is done is fully shown in the article entitled 

 "Shooting Mallards in a Snow Storm." Don't be in 

 too great a hurry to shoot, for they love dearly to circle 

 around before lighting, and will stay up high in the air, 

 fifty to seventy-five yards. When they do this, be calm, 

 and reserve your fire, for unless they see you they will 

 come down. All this time they will be whistling. Im- 

 itate their whistle ; it is very simple, and always' do it 

 immediately after they do, as near like theirs as you 

 can. Whistle often, throw feeling and expression in 

 your tone ; you want them to come, so be very solicit- 

 ous in your call. Don't move in your blind, for their 

 eyes are very sharp, and they will see you. When you 

 fire the first barrel, look sharp, for they will be about 

 thirty feet higher before you are aware and ready for 

 the second. They are noted for being high jumpers, 

 and will jump perpendicularly from twenty to thirty 

 feet when frightened at the report of a gun. They 

 are not hard to capture on the water, as when wounded 



