58 THE WILD-FOWLER. 



and swimming up the pipe in pursuit of him, whilst the playful 

 deceiver is thus decoying- his victims into tlie fatal snare. It must not 

 be supposed that the dog- swims : he never g'oes into the water, 

 but simply runs along- the narrow bank purposely left between the 

 screens and the water.* The dog- has also another duty to perform : 

 when the wild-fowl are reluctant to leave the bank and follow the 

 enticements of the decoy-ducks, the fowler starts him suddenly upon 

 the birds from behind a screen; when they scramble into the 

 water and immediately face the dog- with the most inquiring and 

 brag-g-adocio curiosity ; but beyond that temporary alarm, nothing- 

 more serious occurs, except that it is a practice which generally 

 succeeds; the wild-fowl being then induced to follow the rude 

 intz'uder's enticements ; and sometimes in less than five minutes the 

 whole paddling, which just before appeared so sluggish as they sat 

 basking on the bank, are decoyed up the pipe. 



As soon as the dog has done his part and arrived at the last 

 working-screen, on a signal from his master, he squats down behind 

 it ; not daring- to move, except under directions, or till he finds himself 

 released by the complete capture of the birds. 



There are many speculations as to the influence the dog has upon 

 the birds in enticing them up the pipe. It has been stated by some, 

 that he is made use of to rouse the lethargic and sleepy habits of the 

 birds ; by another,! that the wild-fowl not choosing to be interrupted, 

 advance towards the contemptible little animal, that they may drive 

 it away. But this can scarcely be the correct notion : there must be 

 some other strong and almost irresistible attraction, or pugnacious 

 desire, which induces the birds to follow him up the pipe. Every 

 one knows, that when a dog suddenly enters a field in which a flock 

 of sheep are grazing, at first they appear much alarmed at the intru- 

 sion, and muster in a closely-packed flock, and face the dog, staring 

 at him with curious and suspicious inquiry ; but if the dog moves oif 

 or turns away from the flock, they advance towards him, and appear 

 to watch his movements witb intense interest and threatening attitude. 

 The attraction is still greater with cows and oxen, which not only 

 watch the dog, but follow him about the meadow, when he has 

 suddenly intruded upon their privacy. The behaviour of wild-fowl 



* " The whelp in compassing the hedges [screens] ought always to keep his tail 

 directed towards the pool; his head towards the pipe." — WiUughby\'s Ornit1ioJo(jy ; 

 hy Ray. 



t Pennant. 



