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cab
Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429
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 Posted: Wed May 25, 05 4:03 pm Post subject: American Mode of Capturing Ducks |
 
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An extract from Mrs Beetons book, and one of my favourite passages of writing of all time.
AMERICAN MODE OF CAPTURING DUCKS.�On the American rivers, the modes of capture are various. Sometimes half a dozen artificial birds are fastened to a little raft, and which is so weighted that the sham birds squat naturally on the water. This is quite sufficient to attract the notice of a passing flock, who descend to cultivate the acquaintance of the isolated few when the concealed hunter, with his fowling-piece, scatters a deadly leaden shower amongst them. In the winter, when the water is covered with rubble ice, the fowler of the Delaware paints his canoe entirely white, lies flat in the bottom of it, and floats with the broken ice; from which the aquatic inhabitants fail to distinguish it. So floats the canoe till he within it understands, by the quacking, and fluttering, and whirring of wings, that he is in the midst of a flock, when he is up in a moment with the murderous piece, and dying quacks and lamentations rend the still air. |
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judith
Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 22789
Location: Montgomeryshire
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Nanny
Joined: 17 Feb 2005
Posts: 4520
Location: carms in wales
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cab
Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429
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. Mrs B rates highly on my list of favourite bedtime reading too.
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