The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-04-20
WOOD DUCK.

teeth, and q horny beak throughout.
Geese have the scales on the shins hexa-
gonal (reticulate), while those on the
ducks simply lap, like shingled roof.
Perhaps to the hunter the most inter-
esting trait of the duck is the regularity
of its migrations and its persistent fond
ness for certain feeding grounds. There
are places were ducks feed and places
where they do not, though ordinarily
one cannot see why one is not so good as
the other. ..
But there are times when ducks are
everywhere and anyone who shoots may
have fine days sport with little prep
aration. Sometimes to favoritc roost-
ing place on large pond they come
whistling in between sunset and dark.
Then take stand, strong shooting gun
of good weight and bore, the best pow
der and the largest shot your gun will
pattern well, and reach out for any duck
that you can see the color-msrkings on.
Hold well ahead. It is fall and flight
combined, remember, as he sweeps to
the waters surface. Six to eight feet is
not too far if the range is long. The key
to success may lie largely in concealment.
Never dress conspicuously. II you can,
keep your drab coat outside. and for ex-
ira warmth put on more woolen under.
wear. Skulk low if any killed or
wounded float, for most ducks-espec-
tally teals and red heads, circle again
over fallen friends, even after they may
have gone miles away. On dreary days,
with a northwest wind threatening cold
or snow, ducks leave the prairies, fields
and ponds for the sheltered creeks and
"hug the lee shore in storm" It may
be we'll to remember that ducks are said
always to ahght against the wind, and
that you are mole likely to kill If you
fire just as they are about to drop than
If you wait till they have settled.
OF course 1t is we'll to have a retriever
when shooting ducks, but there are times
when 1t is too cold to use one much with
out great cruelty, especially if he cannot
be allowed exercise. A waterspaniel Is
good, Chesapeake Bay dog better, but
II only occasional hunter your bird dog
should be trained to answer. The best
ever saw was pointer though that was
certainly exceptional. You are apt to
give your hunter rheumatism with much
of thissport. Always reshoot wounded
duck till disabled, and do not chill or
discourage your dog by long, useless
chase, unless you are training a puppy,
Wounded ducks often take to the grass
and hide deftly, when any dog that can
trail will prove useful.
It is we'll to learn to know by the style
of flight whether ducks are alighting
near or going on by. If the focks arc
high-all tending the same way, main
tanning O constant attitude, shape, and
steady wing beat, you had better stay at
home that day, but If they swoop down
and up, break their graceful aock.sh lpe
and change direction often, then it is
not "valnly the fowler's eye might mark
thy flight to do thee harm," as Bryant
has it, for they intend allghting some
where Lear. One, too, should know
something of the habits of individual
species to be able to hunt them success
fully. This can only come of experience.
While all ducks feed promiscuously hud-
died, the various kinds soon flock TO-
gesher in their fight. Mallards may be
known by their size, pintails by the tall
plumes, teal by smallness and rapid wing,
wood duck by conspicuous markings and
others by the sound made when fright
encd or the peculiar whistle of the wing
or curve of flight. 1t requires close oo-
servation tor all this. America is so rlch
in her varieties of this game that 1t taxes
an expert to classify many species OF this
game after they are in hand.
Canvas backs, have curiosity like
that of the antelope of the plains, apd
can he induced sometimes to swim near
shore By the display of some bright,
moving object. Little dogs are some
times trained to roll ludicrously in view
Of t1ocks, while the hunter lies in wait
inc. This is trick said to have been
learned from the fox, who practises it
upon the ducklingS. Mallards decoy
readily; so also do teal and red-heads.
and all may be caused to come lower
down by use of some OF the excellent