HISTORY OF DECOVS. 199 



springs into view, and so urges the fowl into the trap at the end of the 

 pipe. 



This trap, which does duty for a tunnel net, consists of a wooden box 

 some I oft. in length, which I here give a sketch of, and by means of which 

 the birds caught are kept alive, if (as is often the case) they are so required 

 by the dealers 



At A, the furthest end of the trap from the pipe, is a fixed railing which 

 the birds can see between on entering the trap, and which they endeavour 

 to reach under the idea they can push through it and so escape. At B 

 (Figs. I., II., III.) there is also a railing, but it is made in the form of a 

 swing door that opens inwards only, and which, when a catch is about to 

 be made, is lightly propped open. 



On reaching the door, and seeing through the trap, the hurrying 

 frightened birds press into the latter ; once inside they cannot escape, for 

 the door is pulled back again into a vertical position by means of a string, 

 and no pushing will open it from inside. 



C, C, are the small shutters which are removed by the Decoyman 

 when taking out the captured birds. 



D, D, is a partition of open framework, and which enables the Decoy- 

 man to separate his captives, or have one-half of the trap clear of birds for 

 another catch. 



E, E, the end of the Decoy pipe. 



F, F, small pegs for safely securing the swing door at night when 

 birds are caught. 



Fig. Ill shows the long cord which the Decoyman uses to pull down 

 tight the door as soon as he sees fowl are entrapped, and one end of which 

 he holds in his hand. 



The Dutch Decoymen, who, I may add, do a very large trade in live 

 birds with England and the Continent, are by this means enabled to take 

 the fowl alive with the least possible trouble, and risk of damaging 

 them. 



The shutters for taking the birds out as required are a necessity, for 

 it is the custom of the Decoymen to pretty well fill the extreme end of the 

 trap with birds, the result perhaps of several drives on consecutive days, 

 before taking his unfortunate captives out to send them away. 



The Decoy pipes do not usually have arched hoops, but instead, poles 



