120 CURRITUCK MARSHES. 



is the question of the wind to take note of, then the 

 position of the sun, next the cover, and last, but by 

 no means least, the nature of the species of ducks 

 that are flying. It will not do to string out the de- 

 coys dead to lee- ward of a point as is so often seen, 

 except perhaps when canvas-backs and red-heads are 

 alone expected, mallards, sprigtails, and especially 

 the wary black-duck will never or rarely approach a 

 point. If a point, with the wind blowing directly 

 ofE from it has to be chosen, it is better to stretch 

 the decoys around to one side of it so that the wind 

 "will catch the birds under the wing" as he expressed 

 it and swing them in farther than they expected. 

 Points projecting far out into the open water are 

 the favorites of tyro gunners, but they are especially 

 unsuited for any of the marsh ducks, the black- 

 ducks, mallards, sprigtails, and even the widgeons, 

 all of which give a wide berth to such spots, espe- 

 cially after they have been shot at a few times, and 

 most of which prefer to alight close under the lee 

 of a bank, in the "slick" as it is called. 



There are two great divisions of ducks, the deep 

 water, diving or raft ducks, and the shoal water or 

 marsh ducks, which reach down for their food and 

 can never feed in water more than two feet deep. 

 The habits of these two varieties are remarkably dis- 

 similar. The open-water birds, fearless of ambush, 

 are less timid than their pond-loving brethren, who 

 dread an enemy in every tuft of grass or bunch of 

 reeds, when canvas-backs once make up their minds 

 to come to the stools, they come straight on regard- 



