100 THE WILD-FOWLER. 



gunner from exposure. But tliis proceeding- of stalking- wild-fowl 

 in the open country, did not often succeed without extraordinary 

 skill and caution ; the watchful and suspicious nature of the birds, 

 often detecting- the imposition long before the gunner was able to get 

 within deadly range. 



The inhabitants of foreign countries, for centuries past, have been 

 accustomed to employ stalking-horses for the purpose of approaching 

 wild-fowl. Trained oxen were used by the Spaniards ;* and, to this 

 day, stalking-horses are in use in some districts, both in England 

 and on the Continent. 



Artificial stalking-horses were sometimes employed, where the 

 fowler was unable to provide himself with a living one.f These were 

 sometimes made of canvas, stuffed with straw ; being shaped and 

 proportioned as nearly as possible in resemblance to a horse, with its 

 head down, as if grazing on the herbage ; and light and portable, so 

 that the fowler could lift and move it with one hand. Artificial cows 

 are still employed in various parts of France, and sometimes with 

 remarkable success. J 



The stalking-horse, both living and artificial, was constantly em- 

 ployed by the ancient fowler ; and whether for approaching wild-fowl 

 on the open moor, or by the brink of the water. 



The artificial figm'es were painted, and fitted with switch-tails, 

 so as to resemble, as nearly as might be, the living animal j and 

 they were sometimes made after the form and figure of horned cattle, 

 deer, or such animals as the fowl were most accustomed to in the 

 neighbourhood. 



Shrubs, bushes, artificial trees, mock-fences, and such-like con- 

 trivances, § were also employed with some sort of success, though 

 not equal to that of the well-trained live stalking-horse ; a regard 

 being had at all times to the figures and forms wliich were most 

 common in the particular locality, so as to awaken least suspicion to 

 the birds. When this latter class of stalking apparatus was em- 



* Alonzo d'Espinas. 



t Of artificial stalMng-horses, Markham remarks : " Now forasmucli as these 

 stalking Horses, or Horses to stalke witliall, are not ever in readinesse, and at the 

 best aske a good expence of time to bee brought to their best perfection : as also in 

 that every poore man or other vsrhich taketh deUght in this exercise, is either not 

 master of a Horse, or if he had one, yet wanteth fit meanes to keep him : and yet 

 neverthelesse this practise of Fowling must or should bee the greatest part of his 

 maintenance . " — Hung er's Prevention. 



X Vide Aviceptologie Fran9aise ; par C. Ki-esz Aine : 1854. Tit. la Vache arti- 

 ficielle. 



§ Vide Avicetologie. Tit. la Hutte ambulante. — Blome's GenVs Bee, ^c. 



