126 THE BOOK OF DUCK DECOYS. 



HISTORY OF V)^(ZOYS—{contimted). 



CHAPTER IX. 



Decoys in the County of Middlesex. 



Decoys in use. Decoys not in tisc. 



None. I St. James's Park. 



Decoy in St. James's Park. 



Though difficult to realize at the present clay, yet formerly a Decoy 

 existed in St. James's Park. It was situated at the west end of the lake, 

 which at that time was straight and formal, and called " The Canal." The 

 Decoy was placed in an island, then known as the Duck Island. That 

 this Decoy was not a trap Decoy, but a Pipe Decoy, as they are now 

 fashioned, there can be no doubt, on taking into consideration the material 

 used in its construction. It was made by Charles II., who was devoted to 

 wildfowl and other birds, and who spent all his spare hours in feeding his 

 ducks and fondling his spaniels, of which latter he had so many about his 

 court that they were in contemporary journals written down a nuisance. 

 Evelyn writes, March 29, 1665 : "His Majesty is now finishing the Decoy 

 in the Park." 



The following, which I derive from Cunningham's " Handbook of Lon- 

 don," vol. ii. p. 434, gives full details of the cost of making this Decoy : — 



To Edward Maybanke and Thomas Greene for digging the Decoy, 

 and carrying out the earth and levelling the ground about the said Decoy, 

 ^128 2S. iiid. 



To Edward Storey, keeper of the King's birds, for wyer and other 

 things used about the Decoy, and for 100 baskets for the ducks, _^S 9s. 



To S''. George Waterman for several netts for the Decoy, £1^ 3s. 



To James Rimes for plants and 400 bolts of reeds for the use of the 

 Decoy, ^15 i is. 8d. 



