THE ART OF CAPTURING WILD-FOWL BY DECOY. 71 



are lost ; and in all probability the fowl are rapidly swimming- back to 

 the entrance of the pipe, the attractions of the do^ having- ceased : 

 and unless the fowler is very quick, it will be too late to stop them. 



The decoyer should always approach his pipes with caution, 

 especially on making- his lirst round in the morning-. It is not very 

 unusual to find a few volunteers, particidarly ducks, which have come 

 into the pipe of their own accord, and far enough to be secured with- 

 out any enticements. On a morning after a moonlig-ht night, 

 wild-ducks are frequently found in the decoy-pipes, and sometimes 

 fast asleep. 



When the birds are "banked" at the mouth of any one of the 

 pipes, and the wind happens to be favourable for workings that pipe — 

 if they fail to move from the bank on being invited by the decoy- 

 ducks, the fowler need not hesitate to pop the dog- suddenly among- 

 them ; for which purpose there must be a small aperture throug-h the 

 bottom of each of the long screens at the mouths of the different pipes. 

 Immediately on an intrusion of this kind by the dog, the birds 

 scamper off the bank into the water; and before they have had time 

 to be alarmed, the dog has vanished ; and on re-appearing just 

 inside the pipe, the fowl are generally irresistibly enticed to pursue 

 the intruder. This proceeding- is constantly resorted to by decoyers, 

 and generally with success. 



It is always a good stratagem to scatter a little refuse corn or 

 seeds into the windward pipes when wild-fowl are in the decoy, 

 whether it be the intention of the fowler to operate that day or not ; 

 and more especially if the corn can be so directed as to drift directly 

 towards the birds; which, after harmlessly feeding upon it on the 

 open water, will be the more likely to take it eagerly in another place 

 at another time. The tame birds, however, should always be 

 signalled towards the pipe into which the seeds are thrown. 



In frosty weather the decoy should be kept free of ice ; and in 

 very severe weather, when it is no longer possible to keep the ice out 

 of the pond, the pipes and entrance must be cleared once or twice a- 

 day ; and there is then less art in enticing- the fowl up the deceitfid 

 stream ; as they are sure to rest in and about the open water, and will 

 feed greedily on the grain scattered up the pipe. The performances 

 of breaking- and clearing- away the ice must be done before daylight in 

 the morning- ; and for this purpose iron cranes attached to long- staves 

 will be found very useful. All hammering and other noisy operations 

 necessary at the decoy must be perfoi-med at night, during the 



