48 



THE WILD-FOWLER. 



It is not unusual for wild-fowl to sit several hours of the day '' in 

 bank," when they are undisturbed. These are not merely termly 

 sitting's in banco 1 



When a new decoy has been made, thoug'h in a neighbourhood 

 where there are many others, and generally a g-ood number of 

 wild-fowl ; the proprietor must not be disheartened if he meets with 

 little or no success in the first year or two, though his neighbours 

 may take vast numbers during* the season. Wild-fowl are by nature 

 addicted to following their leaders, which are generally old birds, 

 and very often bred in the locality they most frequent ; these prefer 

 going- to old quarters, where they have experienced quiet and repose, 

 to venturing upon a new-made decoy, which always has a degree of 

 suspicion about it. This, and the uncertainty as to the flight of 

 birds, are alone sufficient to give courage to the proprietor of the new 

 decoy, who may fairly hope for success in the following season. If, 

 during the first two years he takes sufficient to pay the expenses 

 of attending and working his project, he ought to be well satisfied. 



In addition to the screens which are placed along the bank out- 

 side the pipe, there are generally others about the mouth or entrance, 

 skirting the resting-places where the birds are encouraged to sit ; and 

 other parts of the pond are so fenced or planned that they could not, 

 if they would, sit upon the bank in any other places but those 

 where the fowler wishes them. 



There should also be a few tufts of grass, small mounds, and tiny 

 islands in the pond, near the entrances to the pipes. These are 

 termed "accommodation tufts." 



It is desirable that the pond should not be deep, but, on the con- 

 trary, shallow ; and the more abundantly the potamogeiton (pond- 

 weed) grows at the bottom, the better. 



The pond should also be constructed with proper dams and sluices, 

 so that the depth of water may be regulated, and kept at its con- 

 sistent level. 



Decoys which are kept up regardless of expense, and more as a 

 recreation than otherwise, should be provided with a small grotto or 

 watch-house, from which the decoyer may be enabled to make his 

 observations. It should be placed among the trees, and well hidden, 

 but in such a position as to command a view of the whole space of 

 water. 



