312 THE COMPLETE WILDFOWLER 



and sheltered piece of water, and assumes a duller plumage, 

 somewhat like that of the female. During this time he becomes 

 very skulking, and rarely shows himself on the open water. 

 When his dull or "eclipse" plumage has been assumed, he 

 casts all his flight feathers at once, and for a short time becomes 

 incapable of flight. They grow again, however, in about a 

 fortnight, and in September he begins to don his own brilliant 

 colours once more, and comes from seclusion to join his com- 

 rades. In the winter they retire in large flocks to open sheets 

 of water or the sea, flighting every evening to the marshes and 

 shore in search of food, and retiring again at dawn to rest on 

 the water. 



These daily movements of Duck are known to sportsmen as 

 "flights," and they afford excellent shooting to the gunner 

 concealed on their route. Vast numbers of this and other 

 species of Duck were formerly taken in decoys, but partly 

 owing to decrease in the number of the fowl, or still more 

 to the increase of shooters, who frighten them away, few 

 decoys are now worked profitably in this country. A decoy is 

 a pond in a suitable locality near the sea surrounded by trees 

 and having two or four curved arms known as "pipes " run- 

 ning up at different corners. These pipes are covered with 

 netting, and end in a small bag net. The Duck are enticed up 

 by the tame birds, and by means of a red dog that they follow 

 out of curiosity. They do not see the decoy man, who has 

 hitherto been concealed, until well up the pipe, and rather than 

 turn back and face him, they rise and fly up the pipe into the net. 

 In order not to startle the other birds on the pond, these pro- 

 ceedings must be carried out quite silently, their comrades 

 remaining unaware of their fate. For the successful working 

 of a decoy absolute quiet and a plentiful supply of food are 

 necessary. In Holland decoys are still in use, where they 

 prove a considerable source of profit to their owners ; their 

 number is limited, and a licence has to be paid for each decoy. 



