DUCKS. 151 



turbed to admit of the decoy being successfully 

 carried on. The Morden decoy was a famous one 

 in its day, being admirably placed to attract wild- 

 fowl from the Poole harbour and estuary, a large 

 extent of water and ooze, with numerous creeks, 

 nearly six miles square. The late Kev. Thomas 

 Pearce, well known as a contributor to The Field 

 under the name of ' Idstone,' and who formerly 

 rented this decoy, informed the author that it had 

 cleared as much as ^300 in a season, which would 

 represent fully 7000 to 8000 fowl, taking expenses, 

 and birds such as Teal and Wigeon into account. It 

 is situated in a swampy valley surrounded by heath. 

 The enclosure is four acres, with an open pond of if 

 acres. It has five pipes, somewhat curiously planned. 

 The decoy enclosure is planted with bog-myrtle, 

 alder, and willow, with some oak and birch. 



"This decoy could easilybe put in working order 

 again, and, from its position near the coast, should 

 still do well. Charborough Park, near which it is 

 situated, has always been famous for the wild beauty 

 of its surroundings, as well as for the number and 

 variety of the game and wild-fowl that frequent it." 



At Wimborne a decoy was commenced by the late 

 Mr. Coventry, of the Knoll, Wimborne, but it was 

 never completed. 



An interesting chapter on wild-fowl decoys in 

 Dorsetshire will be found in Mrs. Panton's " Country 

 Sketches in Black and White," to which reference 

 has been already made under the head of " Curlew." 



