MODERN FARRIER. 565 



narrower as they advance into the wood, and termi- 

 nating in a purse net. On both sides of the pipe are 

 reed-hedges with intervals between, for the decoy- 

 man to observe what is going on ; a number of decoy- 

 ducks are also procured, which are taught to lead 

 wild ones into the snare. 



As soon as the evening sets in, the decoy rises and 

 the wild-fowl approach the shores to feed during the 

 night ; the flapping of their wings may be heard in 

 a still night to a great distance, and is a pleasing 

 though melancholy sound. The decoy-ducks soon 

 meet with the wild ones, and conduct them to the 

 mouth of the snare : the man behind the reeds then 

 throws into the pipe somehempseed, of which these 

 birds are very fond, and are thus tempted to advance 

 a little way under the netting. A very small dog 

 well trained for the purpose is next ordered to play 

 about before the screens, and bark at the ducks, who 

 vexed at being disturbed by so petty an assailant, 

 advance to drive him off. When they have by this 

 means been seduced a considerable way up the tun- 

 nel, the decoy-duck by diving gets out of the arched 

 net, and the man coming from behind the hedge 

 appears at the entrance of the pipe ; the wild-fowl 

 not daring to rush by him immediately, dash for- 

 wards into the purse-net, where they are taken. 



The London market is principally supplied from 

 the Lincolnshire decoys ; ten of which, near Wain- 

 fleet, have been known to send to the metropolis, in 

 a single season, thirty-one thousand two hundred 

 ducks, teals, and wigeons. 



The Gun. 



The difficulty of procuring guns with barrels pos- 

 sessed of truth and efficacy is well known to sports- 

 men. Those Vv'ho have any judgment on this matter 

 may, however, be furnished with both barrel and lock 

 to his satisfaction. A common roller lock of truly 



