MALLARD. 



363 



by which the fowler and his trained dog are hid from the 

 sight of the wild birds, an outline only of which is here 

 introduced. 



Mallards begin to congregate in the decoy soon after 

 Midsummer, but these are the fowl that are bred in the 

 neighbourhood. About the first week in September the 

 Teal begin to come, and about the beginning of October, if 

 easterly winds prevail, there is generally a flight of fowl 

 from foreign countries, composed of Mallards, Wigeon, 

 Dunbirds or Pochards, Teal, with a few Shovellers and 

 Pintails ; but the principal flight of foreign fowl does not 

 arrive till the weather becomes severe ; at that time all sorts 

 arrive, with the exception of the Garganey, which we do 

 not see before the spring of the year, and then only for the 

 purpose of breeding, if unmolested.* 



The Mallard is an early breeder, nesting in March in the 

 southern counties and in mild seasons, and by the middle of 

 April even on the bleak moors of Northumberland ; so that 



* Cf. Lubbock's 'Fauna of Norfolk' (1845); especially the new edition 

 (1879), with notes and additions by Jlr. T. Southwell, the author of an excellent 

 paper on Norfolk Decoys (Tr. Nor. N. H. Soc. ii. pp. 538-5.05). For more recent 

 practical experiences Sir E. Payue-(.nill\vey's ' Fowler in Ireland ' (pp. ()7-94) 

 may be consulted ; there are alto numerous magazine-articles on Decoys. 



