104 TACT AGAlNSr FICTIO^T. 



about six Inches, so that the fine level turf with 

 which the sitting sliould be covered, could be kept 

 jDcrfectly dry as well as smootli, and be easily 

 ascended to by the kixuriously inclined water- 

 fowl, who appreciate a dry warm place for their 

 feet when not upon the water, and they Avill not 

 haunt a decoy permanently unless this luxury 

 is provided. 



The slanting ^^ shows," when the decoy man 

 suddenly lets himself be seen by those ducks who 

 follow the dog to the entrance of the pipe, 

 are so contrived bv the slant in the screen, 

 that the body of the fowl left on the pool 

 that have not followed the dog do not sec 

 the decoy man while he scares his intended 

 catch, and tlie further the frightened birds go 

 towards the end of the pipe, the more they are 

 out of sight and hearing, the curve of the pipe 

 taking them well distant at the back of the screen, 

 and out of all earshot of the broad water. Little 

 ^^ gazes" are made in tlie screen of the decoy for 

 the man to look througli, to see what fowl he has 

 on the water ; these places are termed by some 

 decoy men ^^squinnie holes," derived, perhaps, from 

 '^squinting" through; and it is one of these 



