HISTORY OF DECOYS. iS; 



on account of their bite, but because of their creeping over the skin of the 

 face and neck. Numerous bog plants and mosses are to be found on the 

 moor ; but, through the cutting of drains and ditches, many of these are 

 gradually becoming extinct. The Droscra, Sundews, the Ericce, Heaths, the 

 Andromeda Melampyrum, or Cow Wheat, and Myrica Gale, are abundant, 

 as are various Carices, but not the Osmunda. This moor is being gradually 

 reclaimed by the process of warping and other means, and from the peat, 

 charcoal is now extensively manufactured and sold for agricultural purposes. 



New Zealand. — In 1880 the late Mr. Durham, who owned a large part 

 of Thorne Waste, partly constructed a small Decoy on a portion of the 

 moor known as " New Zealand," near Thorne. It was made on the plan 

 of the Decoy at Ashby, but was never properly worked, and is now out of 

 order. 



Goole Old Decoy. — A Decoy that has not been worked since the early 

 years of the present century, existed near the south bank of the Dutch 

 River, near its junction with the H umber at Goole, 6 miles NNE. of 

 Thorne, on a large extent of marsh, in those days known as Greenland. A 

 farm, called the Decoy Farm, still marks its position ; and a house close by 

 the latter, at one time an inn, had for its sign " The Dog and Duck "—a 

 name possibly suggested by the vicinity of the Decoy. Some few years 

 back the shape of this Decoy was easily to be traced, but it is now 

 grown up and lost to view. 



Goole New Decoy. — Another Decoy 4 miles west of the latter is shown 

 on several old maps the Author has examined, also on the south bank of 

 the Dutch River. 



Being marked new Decoy it is probable it was either started in rivalry 

 of the last mentioned, or else to take its place on Goole, soon after the 

 commencement of the present century, increasing in size from a hamlet to 

 a busy town. 



Birdsall. — The site of a Decoy is shown on old maps at Birdsall, near 

 North Grimston, 6 miles SSE. of Malton. 



This was not a pipe Decoy. It was near Birdsall House, the seat of 

 Lord Middleton, to whom the estate belongs, and who tells me it was a 

 trap or cage Decoy (see page 7 1 ), and that it has long since been discon- 

 tinued and is now nearly silted up. 



