6o THE BIRDS OF ESSEX. 



2,000, and the decoy does not now do more than cover expenses. 

 About 1822. a Mr. Hudson, the then-tenant, cleared over ^400 in 

 one year, which would represent at least 10,000 fowl taken. In 

 1795, however, according to Daniel (p. 49) this pond cleared 

 ;^8oo, after paying all expenses. It is also to this decoy that he 

 refers (6. iii. 266) where he says "that in 1799, 10,000 head of 

 Wigeon, Teal, and Wild Duck were caught in a decoy by the Rev. 

 Bate Dudley, in Essex." The decoy (says Sir R. P. Gallwey) 

 is one of the oldest in Essex, having doubtless been constructed 

 when the land on which it stands was reclaimed from the sea, about 

 200 years ago. Mr. Fitch, however, writes : — 



" This Decoy was made quite at the end of last century. In Arthur Young's 

 A griciillural Surrey oi Essex (vol. ii, pp. 129-130) we read : — ' The great exertion 

 that was made at Tillingham b3Uhe Rev. H. B. Dudley ten years ago, I heard on 

 e^■e^3f hand commended as one of the most considerable that Essex ever saw : 300 

 acres of saltings were taken in by a wall so complete that the expression used was " it 

 was Qxecvittd. Jnmcns/y ! " He took down hills and banks, filled up rills, and reduced 

 the whole to a level. The cartage was all done by bullocks. He formed also a 

 decoy. It is rented under the Dean and Chapter of St. Paul's ; was ;^8oo a year 

 for 800 acres, 140 of which were arable. This Michaelmas (1805) he has relet 

 the 1,100 acres for the remainder of his lease at if 1,750 per annum ; and in the 

 estimation of the country, his profit (so great was the expenditure) cannot be much 

 more than repaying an expense in which the public good has been promoted in an 

 extraordinary manner.' " 



An old rate-book in the vestry at Tillingham gives the names of 

 former tenants as follows: — 1795, ^^^- Mascall ; 1797, the Rev. Sir 

 Henry Bate Dudley; 1805, Mr. Alston; 181 1, Mr. Kebbell ; and 

 18 15, Mr. R. Willes.* Mr. Page has most Wigeon in the decoy 

 in January, the next most productive months being February, 

 December, November, October, March, and September, in the 

 order named. In one year, four AVigeon were taken in August, 

 but in other years none until October. In ordinary years the adjoin- 

 ing Grange Decoy is said to be more profitable than this, but a great 

 deal depends on which gets what is called the "lead" of the birds. 

 An interesting collection of birds which have been taken at one 

 time or other in this decoy — some of them evidently by accident 

 — is preserved at Marsh House, Tillingham (Mr. Robt. Page's). 

 It comprises specimens of the following : — Hooded Crow, King- 

 fisher, Brown Owl, Kestrel, Sparrow-hawk, Peewit, Wild Duck, Scaup, 

 Garganey, Shoveller, Pintail, Wigeon, Gadwall, Scoter, Ferruginous 

 Duck, Tufted Duck, Smew, Coot, Redshank, Spotted Redshank, 



* This record has been erroneously supposed (49.) lo refer to the Glebeland Decoy (No. 4), 

 but a comparison with Arthur Young's remarks, quoted above, clearly shows that it relates to this 

 decoy, as the date of Sir H. B. Dudley having let Marsh House agrees exactly, and No. 4 is 

 moreover, in Bradwell, not Tillingham parish. 



