162 WOODLANDERS AND FIELD FOLK 



And now we must look to other matters essential 

 to the general working of a decoy. About mid- 

 summer the " call " ducks are put upon the water, 

 and their training is at once taken in hand. As 

 this is an important part of the process, the ducks 

 should be young, made very tame, and taught to 

 come to any pipe from all parts of the pool when they 

 are whistled. Previously these have been pinioned 

 to prevent them flying away, and they cannot leave 

 the lake. Still another requisite is a well-trained 

 dog. Custom has always established that this 

 shall be red and as " foxy "-looking as possible; 

 and certainly dogs of this colour prove especially 

 attractive to wild-fowl. 



About the beginning of September mallard and 

 teal begin to congregate in the decoys, and a month 

 later, if easterly winds prevail, there will probably 

 be a flight of fowl from the north, consisting of 

 mallards, teal, widgeon, pochards and shovellers. 

 These are attracted to the decoys by the resident 

 birds, but more because it is their habit to fly off at 

 dusk and return at daybreak to sleep and enjoy 

 themselves in the fancied security of the reedy 

 pool. 



Nothing requires more care and judgment than the 

 successful decoying of ducks. It is carried on most 

 successfully between nine and ten in the morning 

 and three and four in the afternoon. In open 



