GAME AND ITS PEOTECTIOK. 153 



of the open water, and feed in the narrow bays and 

 marsh-encompassed ponds during moonlight nights, 

 if they belong to the tribes that are compelled to 

 gain their living by grubbing at the bottom, with 

 heads down and tails up. And no matter how they 

 are harried in certain places, they feel safe in others 

 close at hand. But the battery, sunken to a level 

 with the water and hidden by the stand of decoys 

 around it, placed on their favorite feeding grounds 

 and in the broad bosom of the open bays, is too 

 much for their courage or sagacity. To see a man, 

 a merciless and murderous mortal, arise in all his 

 horrid aspect from the depths of the sea, from the 

 middle of a body of their fellows, is a terror that 

 custom never stales. After a few such experiences, 

 they lose faith in themselves, and, if possible, take 

 flight to safer and more propitious realms. 



To those who are accustomed to it, there is no 

 more delightful method of shooting than from a 

 battery, but a novice will find much trouble in be- 

 coming accustomed to the confined position and 

 the awkwardness of motion. I remember, years 

 ago, hearing Mr. Dominy, who then kept the fa- 

 mous sporting hostelry at Fire Island, say that if he 

 was to shoot on a wager for his life, he would pre- 

 fer to shoot from a battery rather than in any other 

 way. To one not used to the narrow box and con- 

 strained position, living on one's back does not seem 

 to be the most cheerful manner of killing any spe- 

 cies of game. There is everything in habit, and 

 certainly the exhilaration of watching the approach 



