172 BIRDS OF NOEFOLK. 



number of fowl taken in the comparatively few still in 

 nse is very considerable. 



Many interesting- particulars witli regard to the 

 formation and history of these local decoys will be found 

 in Mr. Lubbock's " Fauna of Norfolk," 2nd ed., pp. 134 

 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 wdde ; 

 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 watchful of birds — 

 which were busily foraging in the shallow water ; on the 

 right-hand " bank," close to the water's edge, was a pied 

 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 decoys 

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

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



