130 THE BOOK OF DUCK DECOYS. 



HISTORY OF DECOYS— (rw///////^^). 



CHAPTER X. 



Decoys in the County of Norfolk. 



Certainly in former days Norfolk was, like Lincoln and Essex, also the 

 land of Decoys, for there were more of them in this county than in any 

 other in England, excepting the above-named counties. 



The shape of the county is nearly elliptical, and it is so surrounded by 

 the sea and by rivers that it may almost be considered an island. In the 

 days when the Decoys were at their best in this county (1808 to 1830), 

 a great part of Norfolk consisted of rabbit warrens, fen lands, and sheep- 

 walks, and though these have been greatly reduced in area, they still exist 

 in parts of the county to a large extent. 



Possessing such an extensive coast-line, and abounding in numerous 

 sluggish rivers and streams, besides many meres and " broads," Norfolk is 

 especially adapted, both from its outlying position in the North Sea, as well 

 as by reason of its varied extent of marsh and water, to attract aquatic birds, 

 and at the present day a larger number of wildfowl frequent and nest in 

 Norfolk than is the case in any other county in England. 



I am greatly indebted to Mr. T. Southwell, F.Z.S., of Norwich, who 

 has very kindly assisted me to most of the particulars I am able to give 

 of the Deco)s in this county. 



There are five Decoys in use in Norfolk, one of which only, that at 

 \Vestwick, is near the coast. The other four, viz., Southacre near Swaff- 

 ham, Didlington near Brandon, Wretham and Merton near Thetford, are 

 quite inland. 



The disused Decoys are placed all over the county, except in its 

 centre. 



Commencing in the NW., near Castle Rising, on the shores of the 

 Wash, and travelling round the coast to Yarmouth, we meet fourteen old 

 Decoys, the first of which is the Dersingham one, and the last, or most 



