CHAPTEE XIII. 



MALLARD SHOOTING IN THE TIMBER SPRING. 



In the spring, when the heavily-timbered "bot- 

 tom-lands," as they are called, are inundated by 

 the rising of the rivers, mallards may be found 

 sitting in large bodies, both by night and day, 

 in the depths of the woods, particularly amongst 

 the maple and willow timber, where they feed on 

 the larva, buds, and vegetable matter found there 

 floating on the surface of the water. On being 

 routed, instead of settling in some other place, 

 and there remaining for the day, they will come 

 back shortly, singly and in small parties, afford- 

 ing most excellent sport. This fact is unknown 

 to many sportsmen, who think, as I did in my 

 earlier duck-shooting days, that the ducks cared 

 but little more for one place than another, and 

 even if they wished to come back could not, or 

 at least would be very unlikely to, find the place 

 again after once leaving. 



If the water is shallow enough to admit of 



