300 
FRANK FORESTER’S FIELD SPORTS. 
food of the inland, as distinguished from the ocean Ducks; but 
this is, I believe, owing greatly, if not entirely, to its being the 
best fed of its genus in the regions wherein I have been wont 
to eat it; for I understand that on the great lakes, and in the 
Western country generally, the Blue-winged Teal is regarded 
as its superior in epicurean qualifications. 
All that kind of shooting is now at an end in this district of 
country j and although they still abound on the great lakes 
along the Canada frontier, and eastward in the British pro 
vinces, the vast extent of those inland seas which they there fre¬ 
quent, renders it impossible, or at least so difficult as to become 
irksome, to take them, except by lying at ambush on points over 
which they fly, and ori the woody margins of the forest streams 
and inlets, which they frequent for the purpose of feeding and 
roosting. In such localities, where streams, debouching into 
the great lakes, flow through submerged and swampy wood¬ 
lands, the Ducks of all kinds are wont to fly regularly land¬ 
ward, in large plumps, or small scattered parties, for an hour or 
two preceding sundown,—and a good shot well concealed in 
such a place, with a good double-gun, loaded with No. 4 up to 
BB, as may be the nature of his ground, and the species of his 
game, will frequently return from a single evening’s expedition, 
loaded with twenty or thirty couple of wild-fowl. 
For this sport, however, little or no advice is needed,—a good 
covert, a heavy gun, and a sufficient charge, are all that can be 
deemed requisite to success. The sport may, however, be ren¬ 
dered both more rapid and more exciting, by the introduction 
of the large Water Spaniel, well broken to fetch, to aid as a 
retriever. Every true sportsman knows how much zest and 
enjoyment is added to every kind of field sports, by the adapta¬ 
tion to it, and the observation during its continuance, of the 
instinct and sagacity of trained animals; and that of the water 
retriever is inferior to none. He must be trained to absolute 
muteness, and the most implicit obedience; he must never stir 
from the spot in which he is ordered by a quiet gesture of his 
master’s hand to crouch close—nay! he must not prick his ear, 
