THE ART OF CAPTURING WILD-FOWL BY DECOY. 73 



cipal flig-lit which brings such countless numbers of wild-fowl from 

 foreig-n shores and northern latitudes does not g-enerally arrive until 

 severe weather sets in, with north-east wind ; when, in proportion to 

 the severity of the season, they come in greater or less numbers and 

 varieties. 



The decoy is exposed to many plunderings and interruptions, which 

 are sometimes beyond the fowler's control ; though some of the 

 marauders may be kept at bay. The boldest thief of all is the fox, 

 and the most mischievous, because he takes the decoy-ducks, it 

 being seldom that he succeeds in capturing a wild one : and when 

 once reynard has discovered a retreat so favourable for his purpose, 

 he notes the basking-places of the decoy-ducks, and then his cunning' 

 seldom fails him, particularly when sharpened with hunger. When- 

 ever an intruder of this kind is found to practise his depredations at 

 the decoy, the most sportsmanlike manner of being rid of the annoy- 

 ance is, to give notice of his doings to the nearest master of a pack 

 of hounds. 



Otters are also great annoyances to the decoyer. Though the 

 food of these animals is chiefly fish, they nevertheless so disturb a 

 decoy, that no success can be expected if there be an otter's lair any- 

 where on the banks of the waters. The quietude of the place would 

 seem to mark it as the chosen resort of the otter ; and should one 

 find its way within bounds of the decoy, no wild-fowl will settle there 

 until it is removed. It is not only the plunges of the animal, when 

 in pursuit of fish, which disturb the fowl, but its stealthy creepings 

 to and fro along the banks of the pond ; and the sudden appearance 

 of its grisly head above water — perhaps close upon the entrance to the 

 pipe. Whenever an otter is found to visit a decoy, it should be 

 trapped as soon as possible. 



Stoats, weasels, beavers, and water-rats are likewise constant an- 

 noyances — 



" Among the sportive tenants of the laire 



Wide havoc water-rats and beavers make'"* — 



and at the proper seasons for trapping- and killing these vermin, they 

 should be kept down : with a little trouble and a few years' ex- 

 perience, the banks and surrounding hedges of the decoy may be 

 tolerably cleared of such fatal marplots. 



* Trans, from Vaniere, hook xv. 



