74 THE FOWLER IN IRELAND. 



Though, as before said, this need not be always 

 rigorously carried out, it is far better to do so when 

 possible, for a decoy, by rights, should be in the 

 centre of a district, the peaceful solitude of which 

 may extend at least a quarter of a mile on all sides. 



Ducks often fly from eight to twelve or fourteen 

 miles to feed at night, particularly if such a flight 

 will bring them to a tidal estuary. Naturally much 

 larger takes of fowl may be expected when a decoy 

 is within a few miles, perhaps six or eight, of the 

 sea ; the fowl then arrive from distant lands unsus- 

 pecting and anxious for rest ; yet good results may 

 be obtained at any spot inland, where their tribe is 

 fairly numerous. 



With a little management a decoy can be made 

 to attract by its quiet security the great majority of 

 all fowl for many miles in its vicinity. 



The birds are only too ready to pass their days in 

 a snug retreat, where (apparently) their persecutor 

 man does not exist, where dogs and guns are never 

 heard, and where they can sleep and rest in peace, 

 without being for ever on the watch for danger. 



Some decoy owners tempt their ducks to feed 

 in the immediate neighbourhood of the pool by 

 encouraging the growth of pond weed and short 

 sweet grass. This is an error. The fowl do not 

 visit a decoy with the intention of feeding, but to 

 rest and plume, or to bask and float to and fro as 

 they fancy. If the birds find food near at hand 

 about the margin of the pool they will not leave it 

 at night, as they ought to do ; for by flying to a 

 distance they associate with many hundreds, per- 

 haps thousands, of their kind, and so allure a con- 



