312 
FRANK FORESTER’S FIELD SPORTS. 
as the Goosander, Speckled Diver, Sheldrake, &c., require ra¬ 
ther different tactics. To get a shot at any of these, you must 
watch which way they are feeding, and, taking your station 
somewhat in advance, wait until they pass you; they will not 
keep you long, as they are very rapid in their movements. Take 
care that the water is pretty deep where you place yourself, or 
they may dive at too great a distance from the shore for a shot ; 
but, after all, they are good for nothing but to be stuffed for a 
collection. 
“ The only other bird that requires a separate notice is the 
mighty Hooper,* monarch of the flood. To get a shot at the 
"Wild Swan is the great object of the sportsman’s desire: he is 
not naturally so shy a bird as the Wild-duck, but still his long 
neck, and acute sense of hearing, render great caution neces¬ 
sary. If, as often happens, he is feeding along the shore, you 
have only to plant yourself in an advantageous situation a good 
way a-head, and it will not be long before he makes his appear¬ 
ance ; but if he is feeding at the mouth of some brook or stream, 
you must crawl in the same way as when after WUd-ducks. 
Should you get within a distant shot of a Hoopei, and are not 
close to the water side, instead of firing from where you are, 
rush down to the edge of the loch, and before the Swan can 
take wing, you will have gained ten yards upon him. When 
the thaw begins after very hard weather, they are almost sure 
to be feeding at the mouths of any mountain bums that run into 
the loch. Should you see Hoopers feeding greedily, nearly out 
of range of your gun, in place of taking the random shot, try to 
prevent their being disturbed, and return at dusk of evening, or 
grey of morning, when they will most likely have come pretty 
close to the shore, especially if any little rivulets run into the 
loch near : this rule applies to most water-fowl. If a Swan be 
* This is a different bird from the Swan of the Chesapeake, Cycnus Amen - 
canus, though closely cognate. Our bird never, I fancy, betakes himself to 
lakes, or the like, within the limits of the United States, though he is said to do 
60 in the far West, beyond the Mississippi and Rocky Mountains, 
