364 DUCK-DECOYS. 



generally situated in a marsh, so as to be surrounded with 

 woods or reeds, and if possible both, to keep the water quiet, 

 and that the repose of the wild 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 hempseed, oats, and buckwheat. In what is called work- 

 ing the decoy, the hempseed is thrown in small quantities over 

 screens made of reeds, to allure the birds forward 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 tjie whistle of the decoy-man, or are 

 enticed by the hempseed. 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 upwards 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. 



Many birds manifest almost reasoning powers in eluding 



