Viii CONTENTS. 



Chap. VIT., Page 44.— THE DECOY POND ; descriptiou of— Nets and pipes ; 

 ornamental and jjleasing acquisition to an estate ; excellent nursery for wild- 

 fowl — Planning a decoy — Extent of grounds — The decoyer's liopes — Splendid 

 presei-ves for water-fowl — Large and small decoys — Banking and fencing a 

 decoy — Sittings in banco ! — New made decoys. 



Chap. VIII., Page 49. — THE DECOY-PIPE ; described and illustrated ; zigzag 

 screens ; mode of forming, planning, and constructing — Portcidlis of old- 

 fasliioned decoy : shootings. 



Chap. IX., Page 53. — THE DECOY-DUCKS; indispensably necessary; entice- 

 ments of; the part they perform — Erroneous impressions of early wi-iters — 

 Wandering decoy-ducks — Widgeon — Method of training — Leading bii'ds. 



Chap. X., Page 56. — THE PIPER ; the most effectual instrument at the decoy ; 

 nature of the dog ; extraordinary sagacity ; curious speculation ; pedigree — 

 Training the piper — Results of close observation — Animal instinct — A ferret 

 useful in absence of piper. 



Chap. XI., Page 61.— THE ART OF CAPTURING WILD-FOWL BY DECOY. 

 — Theoretical Science — In front of the screens — aerial travellers — Hungry 

 strangers — The wicked tempter — Practical performances behind the screens 

 — Extreme caution — The fowler's observations — Manner of enticing wild-fowl 

 into the pipe — Indispensable services of the dog — The fatal tunnel — Neck- 

 brealdng — Suspicious nature of wild-fowl — Best time of day for decoying — 

 Prestige of decoyer. 



Chap. XIL, Page 68.— CAPTURING WILD-FOWL BY DECOY (continucdj. 

 — Practical expei'iences — Favourable aud unfavourable opportunities — Strata- 

 gems of the decoyer — Yoluntcers — Clearing away the ice — The decoy season — 

 Teal ponds — Essex decoys — Decoy plunderers — Cunning of dun-birds and coots 

 — Improvements in modern decoys. 



Chai'. XIII., Page 76.— THE LAW OF DECOYS— Distinction between ancient 

 and modern decoys ; protection ; grounds of action for disturbing ; malicious 

 injmy ; remedy — Case of Keeble v. Hickcringall, and Carrington v. Taylor ; 

 damages recovered ; evidence. 



Chap. XIV., Page 79,— THE POCHARD OR DUN-BIRD; too cunning to be 

 captured in the decoy-pipe ; special invention for capturing ; their singular 

 habits ; immense flights ; best time to shoot them ; excellent purveyors. 



Chap. XV., Page 82.— THE FLIGHT-POND ; origin of the invention ; but little 

 Ivno^vn, except in Essex — Mersea and Brantham flight-ponds ; cumbi'ous ma- 

 chinery ; certain success ; its peculiarities and advantages — Maimer of planning 

 and planting a flight pond, with the necessary nets and apparatus. 



Chap. XVI., Page 89. — MANNER OF CAPTURING DUN-BIRDS AT THE 

 FLIGHT-PONDS ; management of the nets ; flushers ; mode of intercepting 

 the flight of dun-birds ; immense numbers captured — The art of neck-breaking ; 

 singular stratagems ; the trigger-post — Extraordinary captures at the Essex 

 flight-ponds ; heaps upon heaps — Peculiar habits of dun-hu-ds when suspecting 

 the fowloi-'s intentions ; their reluctance to leave the pond — A moderate drop — 

 Decoy aud flight-pond used conjointly. 



Chap. XVII., Page 95.— WILD-FOWL SHOOTING; contrast with land-bird 

 shooting ; varieties of the sport ; essence of enjoyment , skill and energy re- 

 quired ; secrets of success — Old-fasliicjuod sport — Walking the ooze — The stalk- 

 ing horse — Artificial apparatus — Blank days — Hints to the wild-fowler — A 

 vexatious occurence — Favourable opportunities. 



Chap. XVIII., Page 104.— THE WILD-FOWL SHOOTER'S D0(; ; mode uf 

 training, &c. — Wounded wild-fowl — Brent-geese. 



