144 GAME — SHOAL-WATER FOWL. 



" Greenhorns " and " hoosiers," as the regular 

 hunters call such fellows, when they are hunting 

 three or four together (and often half a dozen 

 shoot from the same boat, usually a big fishing- 

 skiff), always commence to cry, "Down! down! 

 Here comes a duck!" whenever they see one any 

 where, no matter how far off, or in what di- 

 rection he may be going; then all crouch low in 

 all kinds of positions. " Where ? where 1 " the 

 others cry, and the one who said "down" now 

 says, " This way " ; then the enquirers look at him 

 to see which way he is looking, and commence 

 turning round, getting partly up, and stretching 

 their necks to discover the duck, when the dis- 

 coverer says, " Oh ! he's going ; he a'n't coming 

 this way." Then all rise up again and breathe 

 freer, until another starts the " Down, down " 

 again, when the same performance is repeated. 

 "When a duck is coming, he usually sees them 

 while making so many motions, and of course 

 sheers off; but sometimes when they are all stand- 

 ing up, watching, some young fool of a drake will 

 come right up to them,unperceived, perhaps, until he 

 is passing by. " Down ! down ! " again ; and while 

 the others are stooping, one fires, but not until 

 the duck is out of range. Then they commence, 



