142 THE BOOK OF DUCK DECOYS. 



HISTORY OF YyY.CO\^-{contmued). 



CHAPTER XI. 



Decoys in the County of Northampton. 



This county is frequented hy wildfowl, in any number, only in its NE. 

 extremity, near which portion it is bordered by Lincolnshire and Hunting- 

 donshire, and more or less encompassed by the sluggish rivers Nene and 

 Wellajid. In former times, when the great meres of Whittlesey and 

 Ramsey, and the Fens of Crowland, Deeping, Stilton, Holme, and Farcett 

 were uncultivated, wildfowl frequented the low-lying lands that border the 

 Nene and Wetland in Northamptonshire in large numbers. This area is, 

 however, restricted to the extreme NE. point of the county, and reaches 

 from Onndle to Wansford and thence to Croivland. Between Crowland 

 and Peterborough exists the only fen in the county, that known as Borough 

 Fen, and here is placed an old and well-known Decoy. The only other 

 Decoy in Northamptonshire is Lord Lilford's, at Aldwinckle, on the Nene 

 near Oundle. 



Decoys in use. Decoys out of tise. 



Aldwinckle. 

 Boroueh Fen. 



None. 



Aldiuinckle, near Lilford Hall, Oundle, 3f miles NE. of Thrapstone. 

 A Decoy was constructed here last year (1885) by T. Gilbert Skelton for 

 Lord Lilford. It is triangular in form, and has three pipes, one at each 

 corner, and is a very perfect example of a Duck Decoy, as no expense or 

 trouble has been spared in its construction. 



The Decoy being situated in the valley of the River Nene, is likely to 

 succeed, as fowl frequent and pass over this valley in large numbers, and 

 also rest on their migration in it, especially when the river floods, as it 

 sometimes does extensively. Lord Lilford tells me that he has seen as 



