BAY-SNIPE SHOOTING. 83 
and will make a decoy scarcely distinguishable by 
man from the living prototype, but apparently more 
unnatural to the birds—which are sometimes alarm- 
ed at its ghastly appearance—than the ordinary 
stools. 
Very perfect stools are made of India-rubber, 
which, being compressible and light, can be readily 
transported, and are a deceptive imitation; their 
principal defects are their liability to injury from 
shot—which is also the case with wooden ones—and 
the facility with which the hole where their long leg 
is inserted becomes torn—an accident that entirely 
destroys their usefulness. They can be packed in a 
small compass, and are infinitely the best article 
where they are to be carried long distances. Al- 
though of necessity undersized, their full plump shape 
makes them visible at a considerable distance. 
To prevent the bills, which are the most delicate 
part, from being injured, it is necessary to make 
them rather thicker than those of the living bird ; 
they are to be painted dark-brown, blue, or grey, ac- 
cording to circumstances; and their loss, although 
it may not diminish the attractiveness, destroys the 
beauty of the fictitious flock. More important than 
perfection of decoys, is accuracy in whistling; this 
should be a perfect imitation and answer to the call 
of the bird, and will often allure him to the fowler 
without any decoys whatever. It is impossible to 
describe the calls on paper, and long practice wiil 
alone give a thorough knowledge of them ; they are 
generally shrill and loud ; the shriller and louder the 
