444 DUCK SHOOTING. 



reaching the platform, where it will stand and preen its 

 feathers, quacking meanwhile with energy at every 

 passing bird, or in more subdued tones holding converse 

 ■ with its companions in the coop on the blind. 



The live decoy occupies the apex of a triangle, the 

 sides being strung with the ordinary wooden decoys in 

 greater or less numbers as inclination may suggest, al- 

 though the squawking of this feathered siren makes a 

 large display unnecessary. 



When a flock of ducks appear, her calls seldom fail 

 to attract their attention, and as she stands upon the 

 little platform she shows up in such fine form that they 

 generally turn to investigate. 



And now Elmer will take a decoy from the coop, 

 crouching low as he grasps it firmly with both hands. 

 A quick toss sends it high in air above the blind, where 

 with noisy expostulation it presently sails down with 

 outspread wings and joins its tethered mate. This 

 manoeuvre rarely fails to decide the action of the wild 

 birds. They either at once set their wings and swiftly 

 scale in to the decoys, or, circling a few times, alight, 

 and after consulting together, swim up within range of 

 the leaden death that is lurking within the cedars of 

 the blind. 



Should they act as though suspicious, the judicious 

 tossing of a few more decoys will settle it, and it is curi- 

 ous to see the air of fearlessness which now pervades 

 the flock as they swim rapidly up. 



It often happens that several bunches of ducks will 

 swim in from different directions at the same time, and 



