Ill 



When shooting on the mudbanks I always 

 make use of a number of " dummies."* 1 These are 

 arranged on the most frequented mudbanks, and it 

 is seldom that a flock of waders will pass over the 

 flats without flying round if not immediately 

 settling to them. On several occasions I have had 

 as many as from three to five hundred birds of 

 various species gathered round my " dummies " 

 within sixty yards of the gunning punt, the nearest 

 probably being within a boat's length. 



The arrival of a large flock of Knots is a most 

 amusing sight. After wheeling two or three times 

 round they invariably alight close by, and having 

 thoroughly examined the decoys a general conver- 

 sation appears to take place ; then one by one they 

 thrust their beaks under their feathers and in a few 

 minutes the whole are resting quietly on one leg. 

 They take but little notice of our moving about in 

 the boats at forty or fifty yards' distance ; but should 

 our actions appear too threatening a few will 

 probably run up and attempt to warn the un- 

 conscious " dummies." 



On approaching still closer they will occasion- 

 ally rise on wing ; but finding their wooden friends 

 do not accompany them they will settle again and 

 endeavour with loud twitterings to induce them to 

 start. 



The Knot is the only wader that I have ever 

 remarked as being so careful for the welfare of 

 their lifeless companions ; but Pochards commonly 

 exhibit precisely the same regard for the wooden 

 decoy ducks which I generally use during the 

 winter months. These are anchored by means of a 

 line and stone, and always bobbing about, head to 

 wind, are such a correct representation of a flock 

 of wild fowl, that a gunner who is a stranger to 



* Imitation birds carved out of wood, and painted to represent 

 Plovers, Godwits or Knots, being strongly constructed and furnished 

 with iron legs and beaks so as not to be injured if struck by the shot. 



