94 THE WILD-FOWLER. 



To give a further illustration of the countless numhers of dun-birds 

 which sometimes used to assemble on the Essex flig-ht-ponds ; it is an 

 indisputable fact, borne out by the testimony of many witnesses still 

 living-, that the birds have been known to assemble in flig-hts so 

 numerous as to cover almost every inch of water on the pond ; and, 

 on such occasions, they sit so closely packed, many with heads 

 under their wing-s, apparently so reluctant to leave the fresh-water, 

 that it has been the easiest tiling possible to creep up to the water's 

 edg-e and take a pair or two alive in the hand, without disturbing- 

 the remainder of the fiig-ht : but this proceeding- requires g-reat 

 caution, or every bird would take alarm and leave the pond. 



There is also this peculiarity about dun-birds. When hard pressed, 

 they invariably appear obstinate, and are difficult to drive in the 

 direction required ; but when unsuspecting, and not so pressed, the 

 fowler will find, that by keeping- at a distance and using- caution, they 

 may be driven, either by nig-ht or day, as easily and as closely packed 

 as a flock of sheep. From five to six hundred dun-birds at a " drop" 

 was formerly considered but a moderate capture ; and to break the 

 neck of every bird in that number, would occupy three experienced 

 men but twenty minutes. 



If the pond is to be used conjointly as a decoy and flig-ht-pond, 

 the decoy-pipes must be at one end and the dun-bird yard at the 

 other. The latter must be free from obstructions of trees and under- 

 wood, so as to leave a clear outlet for the dun-birds when on wing- ; 

 and the remaining- part of the surrounding- gTounds, where the decoy- 

 pipes are, should be well and thickly-planted ; so that the only route 

 by which dun-birds can leave the water shall be by the open space 

 purposely cleared of trees and obstructions : or the pond may be 

 provided with four decoy-pipes and four flig-ht-nets, as in the illustra- 

 tion at pag-e 89. If the pond is circular, then the planting- would be 

 exactly similar in shape to a horse-shoe, the outlet or unplanted space 

 being- used as the dun-bird yard, and laid down with g-rass turf. 



