DUCK-STALKING. 201 



enormous bull-frogs* crawled and hopped in the shallows, 

 and musk-ratsf swam from bank to bank. 



None but those who have thus idled away the hours 

 of a glorious autumn day can form an adequate idea of 

 the charm and interest attaching to such studies of 

 animal life. 



Stalking ducks, however, affords by far the best sport, 

 requiring as it often does very great skill, especially when 

 it is necessary to approach a flock some distance out on 

 the open water. The landmarks and bearings being 

 carefully noted, the shooter, after making a sufficient 

 detour^ on arriving at the point of advance, commences, 

 according to the nature of the intervening ground, to 

 glide stealthily forward, dodging behind every tree and 

 bush; sometimes bent nearly double, or in default of 

 cover crawling on hands and knees through the grass. 

 If the birds are diving or feeding, the moment must be 

 watched when two or three are under water together, or 

 have their tails simultaneously upturned ; then dashing 

 rapidly forward he should, frighten away the rest, to 

 prevent their giving alarm, and gain the nearest cover 

 before the divers reappear. If this manoeuvre be suc- 

 cessfully accomplished, he may pause a moment to re- 

 cover his steadiness of hand, for the absence of the other 



* Eaiia pipiens. t Mher xiUthecus. 



