DUCK-DECOYS. 409 



fowl may not be interrupted. A certain number of 

 Decoy-Ducks is then provided, consisting of wild ones, 

 which are bred for the purpose, and which although they 

 fly abroad, regularly return for food to the decoy- waters, 

 and of tame ones which never quit the water, and are 

 regularly trained to act their part. Their food consists 

 of hemp-seed, oats, and buck-wheat. In what is called 

 working the decoy, the hempseed is thrown in small 

 quantities over screens made of reeds, to allure the birds 

 forwards towards the pipes, or wicker channels, of which 

 there are several, leading up a narrow ditch, closing at 

 last with a funnel-net. Over these pipes, which grow 

 narrower from the first entrance, is a continued arch of 

 netting suspended on hoops; it is necessary to have a 

 pipe for almost every wind that can blow, as upon this 

 circumstance it depends which pipe the Ducks will take 

 to; and the Decoy-man always keeps to leeward of the 

 flock, taking the additional precaution of keeping a piece 

 of turf burning to prevent their scenting him. 



Along each pipe at certain intervals are placed the 

 reed screens, which hide the decoy-man, until the 

 moment when it is necessary for him to show himself, 

 namely, when the birds have passed up the pipe to which 

 they are ,-led by the trained birds who know the whistle 

 of the decoy-man, or are enticed by the hemp-seed. A 

 dog, which is generally preferred of a reddish colour, is 

 also trained to play backwards and forwards between the 

 screens; and by suddenly appearing, and running round 

 a screen, the birds are attracted towards him. When a 

 sufficient number of Ducks have thus fairly passed up 

 the pipe, the decoy-man comes forward from behind the 

 screens, upon which the whole flock, unable to fly up- 

 wards on account of the hoop-net above, rush onwards 

 to a funnel-net which opens on the land, where they are 

 caught without difficulty; the trained birds are of course 

 immediately turned loose again. If well managed, a 

 good decoy has been known to produce several hundred 

 pounds a year. 



