146 THE IMPORTANCE OF BIRD LIFE 



proves its undoing. It flies without hesitation 

 -to any group of objects which resemble in any 

 respect its own kindred. The sight of these 

 decoys, together with the imitative whistles of 

 the hidden gunner, seem to arouse in the birds an 

 unquenchable desire for companionship that 

 blinds them to all danger, even the reports of 

 guns and the falling of other members of the 

 flock. The writer has seen large clam-shells 

 and pieces of shingles successfully employed in 

 place of well modeled tin or wooden decoys. 



Far more wary are the ducks, geese, and other 

 water-fowl. So deep-seated in them is native 

 suspicion that time and again they will pass by 

 apparently unnoticed the great flock of wooden 

 images thoughtfully arrayed in front of the hid- 

 den blind by the hunter. If, however, he has 

 staked out one or two call-ducks on short tether- 

 ing strings in the midst of the decoys, the sus- 

 picions of the wild birds are allayed by their 

 quacks, and they fly in to destruction. 



Garrulous drakes are used as call-ducks, gen- 

 erally mallards or black ducks, these being the 

 most easily tamed. They undergo no training 

 before being taken to the blind. A good drake 

 will soon learn its business and refuse* to ex- 

 change confidences with every passing bird. 

 The caller which quacks at a fish-hawk is not es- 

 teemed by the sportsman. He requires a drake 

 which confines its attentions wholly to ducks. 



