550 
MALLARD. 
bourhood of a river, on one of the banks of which he 
had built a hut of reeds like a sentry-box, perforated 
with loop-holes, which he could open and shut at 
pleasure, to spy his prey, and take his aim. If he 
saw a flock of wild-fowl in the air, he let loose two 
or three of his tame drakes, which, after a short 
flight, alighted within thirty paces of the sentry- 
box, where he had scattered some grains of oats. 
The wild ones, after several turns in the air, stooped 
down wards and followed the tame drakes ; or, if they 
lingered too long, the person dispatched a second 
flight of drakes, and even a third, and then ran 
from his observatory to his hut without being per- 
ceived : there he opened the loop-hole which was 
best calculated for his purpose, observed the favour- 
able moment when he could fire without killing his 
calls ; and, as he levelled almost horizontally, he 
sometimes swept down five or six at a shot. All 
these precautions seem necessary, as the ducks in a 
wild state are exceedingly mistrustful, and never 
alight till after they have wheeled several times 
round the spot, apparently to discover if they have 
any enemy to fear. 
In some parts of the w orld they have a singular 
method of catching these creatures, which has been 
often noticed by travellers. Some empty calabashes 
are floated for a few days in the places frequented 
by the wild fowl, who at first seem somewhat afraid 
of them ; but after a while they become used to the 
sight, and will at length entirely disregard the 
floating calabashes. When the fowler finds them 
