428 HISTORY OF 



for the decoy-man to see, and for the little dog to 

 pass through. This attracts the eye of the wild 

 fowl, who, prompted by curiosity, advance towards 

 this little animal, while he all the time keeps play- 

 ing among the reeds, nearer and nearer the fun- 

 nel, till they follow him too far to recede. Some- 

 times the dog will not attract their attention till a 

 red handkerchief, or something very singular, be 

 put about him. The decoy ducks never enter the 

 funnel net with the rest, being taught to dive 

 under water as soon as the rest are driven in. 



The general season for catching fowl in decoys 

 is from the latter end of October till February. 

 The taking them earlier is prohibited by an act 

 of George the Second, which imposes a penalty 

 of five shillings for every bird destroyed at any 

 other season. 



The Lincolnshire decoys are commonly let at 

 a certain annual rent, from five pounds to twenty 

 pounds a-year, and some even amount to thirty. 

 These principally contribute to supply the markets 

 of London with wild fowl. The number of ducks, 

 widgeon, and teal that are sent thither is amazing. 

 Above thirty thousand have been sent up in one 

 season from ten decoys in the neighbourhood of 

 Wainfleet. This quantity makes them so cheap 

 on the spot, that it is asserted the several decoy- 

 men would be glad to contract for years to de- 

 liver their ducks at the next town for tenpence 

 the couple. 



To this manner of taking the wild fowl in 

 England, I will subjoin another still more extra- 



