564 MODERN FARRIER. 



continued his pursuit, while the bird persevered in 

 counterfeiting lameness and inability of flight, throw- 

 ing herself forward to a distance proportioned to his 

 speed, but sufficient to clear his grasp, yet near 

 enough to encourage his hopes. At length, chagrin- 

 ed, and increasing his pace, he began to run, while 

 the bird, on his nearer approach, alternately rose a 

 little on the wing and tumbled upon the ground, 

 thus keeping up his attention till she led him more 

 than half a furlong from the spot where he first per- 

 ceived her. Kising suddenly above his head, she 

 then winged her flight as in triumph, to a marsh, 

 at the distance of nearly a quarter of a mile, in which 

 there was a large pond, where she alighted secure. 

 Disappointed in obtaining her, he consoled himself 

 by considering that he could certainly take the young 

 ones, and retraced his steps to the bush for the pur- 

 pose. He examined the spot with care, turning 

 back the grass in every direction for some distance 

 around, and even beat about the contiguous brush- 

 wood, but in vain : no ducklings were to be seen, 

 nor could his utmost search discover them. Nature 

 had taught them, when the parent gave the note of 

 alarm, to provide for their safety by escape and con- 

 cealment. 



The first of Octobei is the day appointed, by act 

 of parliament, for the commencement of the decoy 

 business, which about the close of this month is at 

 its height. The extensive marsh lands of Lincoln- 

 shire are the tract that is chiefly resorted to in this 

 country by the wild-ducks, and other water-fowl, 

 and prodigious numbers of them are annually taken 

 in the decoys. 



A decoy is generally made where there is a large 

 unfrequented pond surrounded by wood, and backed 

 by a marshy and uncultivated country. In different 

 quarters of the pond are constructed pipes as they 

 are called, or narrow ditches, covered with a con- 

 tinued arch of netting suspended on hoops, growing 



