288 AMERICAN GAME BIRD SHOOTING. 
species, which is very abundant in the regions bordering 
the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers, east of the Rocky 
Mountains, is considered to rank next to the canvas-back 
and red-head in delicacy of flesh. It is one of the first 
of its family to appear from the north, and as it moves in 
vast teams, it affords splendid sport. Market hunters 
are its greatest enemies, for they slaughter it by the thou- 
sands, owing to the constant demand for it. 
When ‘‘springs” are startled, they rise suddenly 
from the water and flee at a high rate of speed, but 
they may not go far before settling again. As they 
huddle closely when on the wing, a man may bag 
twenty or more in one round, but it must be deliv- 
ered at the proper time, that is, when they have 
just passed, or when the bulk of the team is in front, as 
they fly rapidly and scatter in all directions after the 
first shot, though they may reunite shortly afterwards. 
Any shot from No. 7% to 9 is heavy enough to use, 
as they are easily killed. They drop to mallard decoys 
and readily answer the mallard call, which is not 
unlike their own, though it is not so short, thin, and 
high. They may be easily approached on the water by 
employing ordinary precaution, but they are rather shy 
on the wing, and always ready to fiee from the vicinity 
of any unusual sight or sound. Their favorite haunts 
are ponds and shallow streams and lakes where insects, 
wild rice, duck grass, and pond lies thrive, and the 
more muddy the bottom and tranquil the water, the bet- 
ter they like it. They are generally pursued in screened, 
flat-bottomed skiffs, and fired at the moment they rise in 
a bunch, as a person cannot afford to give them any 
chances, owing to their speed. They are also shot from 
blinds when they are trading, and if they fly close to the 
ground one is almost certain of making a big haul with 
both barrels. Being found from Manitoba to Florida, 
they afford sport in some part of the country throughout 
