172 BIRDS OF NORFOLK. 



number of fowl taken in the comparatively few still in 

 nse is very considerable. 



Many interesting particulars with regard to the 

 formation and history of these local decoys will be found 

 in Mr. Lubbock's "Fauna of Norfolk," 2nd ed., pp. 131 

 and 220; also in a paper printed in the "Transactions 

 of the Norfolk and Norwich Naturalists' Society," ii., 

 p. 538,"^ to which I must refer the reader for further 

 information on this branch of the subject, as the accounts 

 there given are much more complete than space will 

 here permit of, but I should like to describe very briefly 

 the mode in which a decoy is worked, and for this pur- 

 pose will give the actual experience of a recent visit to 

 Fritton. 



Through the right-hand front reed-screen of the 

 decoy is thrust a flat slip of wood about an inch wide ; 

 by turning this slip in a horizontal position a slight 

 opening is made in the screen through which the decoy- 

 man has an excellent view of the pond and all that is 

 taking place in front of, or on the "■ banks " leading to the 

 mouth of the "pipe." Here he makes his inspection 

 • before deciding whether or not to commence operations. 

 I know of no prettier sight, or one more instructive to a 

 naturalist, than a peep through this " spy-hole," whether 

 in summer or winter. Here, as Mr. Lubbock remarks, 

 " you see nature as she really is," and such birds or 

 beasts as are on the move may be watched probably 

 within a few feet of the spectator, engaged in their 

 various occupations, perfectly unconscious of the close 

 proximity of their most dreaded enemy — man. One 

 lovely summer's evening 1 thus made the near acquaint- 

 ance of a pair of coots — the most Avatchful of birds — 

 which were busily foraging in the shallow water ; on the 

 right-hand " bank," close to the water's edge, was a ])ied 

 wagtail intent on securing a supper of gnats ; whilst from 

 the opposite bank, as I looked, came leisurely swimming 

 across, picking its way through a bed of Polygonum 



* For a very complete description of the mode of constructing 

 and working a decoy, as well as many interesting accounts of decoj's 

 ancient and modern, see " The Book of Duck Decoys," by Sir Ealph 

 Payne -Galwey, Bart. London, Van Voorst, 1886. 



