BLINDS. 49 



rice-pond, it is well for one to take a stand on 

 one of the large muskrat-houses nearly always to 

 be found there, as by taking separate positions 

 more shots are obtained. To build a blind in a 

 rat-house, a large one like a small hay-stack 

 should be selected, a hole dug in the middle with 

 the hands and feet, and the edges then built 

 higher with stalks of rice or flags. This makes 

 an excellent blind, as the ducks, being accustomed 

 to rat-houses, take no especial notice of it. It is 

 a favorite manoeuvre of greenhorns to crawl round 

 the outside of rat-houses, endeavoring to hide, and 

 being liable to be kicked off upon firing. I have 

 crawled about many a one thus in my early duck- 

 shooting days. 



If the blind is to be built of small branches or 

 bushes, they should be stuck up in the ground 

 close together, smaller twigs entwined among 

 them, and bunches of grass, weeds, rice, or flags 

 scattered judiciously over and amongst them, to 

 close all large, open spaces or thin places that 

 the ducks might see through. If very large, 

 bushy branches are used, they may be laid down 

 crossing each other, with the tops turned out- 

 wards. The blind should never be built higher 

 than the shoulders when in an erect position. 



