MALLARD. 305 



rustling of their wings often alone marks their progress. Their 

 flight is generally in the form of a wedge, or two converging 

 Hnes (>) ; and being very cautious, they never alight until 

 they have wheeled several times round the spot, as if to sur\^ey 

 any lurking danger that may possibly threaten. They often 

 also swim out at a distance from the shore, and one or more 

 of the party, experienced as leaders, usually watch for the 

 common safety, and give instant alarm whenever there is 

 occasion. During the day they thus roam at large on the 

 lakes, secluded pools, or broad rivers remote from the shores, 

 resting or sleeping till the approach of twilight. In a domestic 

 state, though their habits are so much changed, they are very 

 noisy and watchful in the evening and at dawn, responding 

 their quack and cackle to the early crowing of the cock. 

 It is at this time that the fowler, secreted in his hut or in 

 any other way, lies in wait for their approach to the lure 

 of his female decoys, and pours among them his destructive 

 fire. 



It would far exceed our limits to detail the various arts 

 employed in order to obtain this wily and highly esteemed 

 game. Decoys of wood, carefully painted to imitate these and 

 other species, are sometimes very successful lures in the morn- 

 ing twilight. The imitation of floating objects, as a boat 

 painted white amongst moving ice, has also sometimes been 

 attended with complete success. In India and China the 

 natives, wading into the w^ater and conceaHng the head in 

 a calabash, steal upon the Ducks imperceptibly, and drawing 

 them down severally by the legs, fasten them to a girdle, till 

 it becomes loaded with its unsuspicious game. 



In the fens of Lincolnshire extensive and ingenious decoys 

 are made for this purpose in the form of a winding canal pass- 

 ing out of the lake where the Ducks resort, and which is 

 screened on one side by a high reed-fence. At the bottom 

 of this artificial and converging sluice, marched with willows, 

 a tunnel net is laid, into which the birds are driven by a dog 

 trained for the purpose and sent out to the Ducks at the 

 entrance of the inlet ; they are thus, with suitable precaution, 



VOL. II. — 20 



