72 THE FOWLER IN IRELAND. 



Any small rushy pool in a retired situation, with a 

 stream through it, and trees and brushwood around, 

 will answer the purpose. Some spot in the vicinity 

 of a large estuary or inland lake is, of course, best. 

 Ducks cannot abound where they do not find food. 

 After feeding at night, and you have established a 

 haunt (your first care, ere you think of capture), 

 the fowl will fly many miles to rest in your con- 

 venient shelter and enjoy it ; basking and pluming 

 in peace and happiness all day, instead of being 

 constantly on the look-out for danger. 



The birds will, when they get to know it, in pref- 

 erence pass the day with you in peace and quietude, 

 rather than go to unprotected waters where they are 

 likely to be disturbed and shot at. There is no 

 more interesting sight than to view half the wild- 

 fowl of the county collected in your private demesne, 

 did you never take one of them, the very birds that 

 are being followed, shot at, and sighed for, outside 

 the bounds. Here you see them peaceful and happy, 

 washing, dressing, and sporting in comparative 

 tameness. 



Though Duck and Teal are taken by thousands 

 in a few well adapted decoys in England, no one 

 need grumble who can manipulate his three to four 

 hundred in the season. 



I will now attempt to describe the construction 

 and mode of working a decoy for capturing wild- 

 fowl, such as might be completed at a trifling 

 expense in any suitable locality, either in England 

 or Ireland. I do not say it would be a source of 

 profit, save under most favourable conditions ; but 

 its management would give those who have a taste 



