190 



THE FOWLER IN IRELAND. 



of one large or two or three small feathers passed 

 underneath the ring next the ground and through 

 the loops formed by the leg joints.* The live decoy 

 string is brought up to the fowler's hands at his 

 hiding-place at C. Pluck up a little grass and fern 

 to partly conceal the poles, and press the net and 

 part of the rope it is on flat with the foot. 



Retire to the hiding-place at C ; if there is 

 no means of concealment, crouch low when birds 



FIG. 8. 



appear in sight. A couple of boughs or a bush 

 stuck into the ground, with grass or rushes sprinkled 

 thereon, will make an extempore shelter in a few 

 minutes, but it is rarely necessary to do this. If 

 Plover are circling about, and do not notice the 

 dead decoys, pull the string of the live one ; the 

 bent wire will lift him off the ground ; he will spread 

 his broad wings as if flying, and when lowered 



* The wire to which the live decoy is secured (fig. 8) should be 

 \ inch thick, and 3 feet above ground. 



