CHAPTER XII. 



THE ART OF CAPTURING WILD-FOWL BY DECOV. 



\_Co'ntinued.^ 



" Aucupari gratiam alicujus assentatiuncula." 



Puny, 



There are many considerations to be reg-arded by the fowler before he 

 proceeds to put in force the means at hand for working- the decoy-pipe. 

 It is not at all times and on every opportunity that it would be judi- 

 cious to attempt taking- wild-fowl in the decoy, though the water may 

 be well covered ; and an unsuccessful attempt may do much injury. 

 The fowler has to consider first, the species of fowl which have come 

 to visit the decoy : if they are teal, he will probably try them at 

 once ; if ducks, he will take an early opportunity in the course of the 

 day ; but before doing so, he will have to decide if the wind be favour- 

 able and the weather suitable. If the birds appear restless or other- 

 wise suspicious, which may generally be known by their movements 

 in the decoy ; or if they keep in the centre, far away from the shore, 

 they are supposed to be too wary to be enticed ; and must be left in 

 quiet possession of the waters two or three days, until they approach 

 the bank fearlessly, and associate freely with the decoy-ducks. 



He will also have to consider if the season of the year be early, 

 mid-season, or late. If early, there are generally so many young- 

 birds among; them, that the fowler may resort at once to his 

 manoeuvres with decoy-ducks and dog* ; and if he is a good hand at 

 his business, he will generally succeed with the first flight. Diu-ing' 

 mid-season he acts cautiously, and only attempts his stratagems 

 when tolerably sanguine of g-ood success. Later in the season the 

 fowler's best skill is required, as the birds become exceedingly 

 vigilant. Large numbers are not then often expected; and the 

 decoyer has to practise his artifices u})on small flig-hts, but always 

 with extreme caution, whilst the weather continues " open," as the 

 term is, in appliance to cold weather without ice ; but if the weather 



