306 
FRANK FORESTER’S FIELD SPORTS. 
“ Another invariable rule in crawling upon Ducks is always, 
if possible, to get to the leeward of them for although I am 
firmly of opinion that they do not wind you like deer, as some 
suppose, yet their hearing is most acute. I have seen instances 
of this that I could hardly otherwise have credited. One day I 
got within about sixty yards of three Ducks asleep upon the 
shore; the wind was blowing very strong, direct from me to 
them, a thick hedge forming my ambuscade. The ground was 
quite bare beyond this hedge, so I was obliged to take the dis¬ 
tant shot through it: in making the attempt, I rustled one of 
the twigs—up went three heads to the full stretch, but when I 
had remained quiet for about five minutes, they again placed 
their bills under their wings; upon a second trial, the slight 
noise was unfortunately repeated : again the birds raised their 
heads ; but this time they were much longer upon the stretch, 
and seemed more uneasy. Nothing now remained but to try 
again; my utmost caution, however, was unavailing, the birds 
rose like rockets. I never hesitate concealing myself to wind¬ 
ward of the spot, where I expect Ducks to pitch, feeling confi¬ 
dent that, unless I move, they will not find me out. I have 
often had them swimming within twenty-five yards of me, when 
* “ If you have also a bright sun at your back, and in their eyes, your advan¬ 
tage is great; but should the sun and wind favor opposite directions, let the 
nature of the ground decide your advance. 
“ I was last winter shooting wild-fowl with a gamekeeper who firmly held the 
common notion of their keen noses. We saw a flock of about twenty pitched 
upon a long point, and no possibility of approaching them except directly to 
windward. “ Now, sir,” says the keeper, “ if you’ll stalk these Ducks so as to 
get a good shot, I’ll never care for their noses again !” They had the full 
benefit of the wind as it blew pretty strong, but there was some soft snow on 
the ground, which I knew would prevent their hearing; so I took him at his 
word, killed three with my first barrel, and had they not been intercepted by 
the trees and bushes, would have knocked down at least one more with my 
second. The keeper has said ever since that their noses are not worth a straw: 
my decided advice, however, is not to stalk wild-fowl to windward, if it can be 
avoided; for should the snow be at all crisp with frost, or if there are many 
twigs and bushes to crawl through, their noses become acute enough !.!” 
