THE DECOY-POND. 45 



naturalist, where much is to be learned of the habits and instincts of 

 water-fowl ; though it seems that, through the selfishness of decoy- 

 owners, naturalists could seldom obtain admittance.* In winter, 

 though sport cannot always be had elsewhere, there is scarcely a day 

 but amusement of some kind may be found at the decoy. 



It requires much good judgment to plan a decoy-pond so as to in- 

 sure success in taking wild-fowl in numbers sufficient to answer the 

 purpose, or repay the expense of outlay and keeping up. 



The place chosen for the decoy must necessarily be a secluded 

 spot, far removed from public highways, footpaths, railroads, canals, 

 and other interruptions. The " twang ! " of the rifle, or the " bang ! " 

 of the shot-barrels, must never be heard within its precincts. No 

 crack of the whip, or huntsman's horn no sound of human voice, of 

 cart-wheel, or horse's hoof, must reach the lonely spot, particularly 

 whilst birds are known to be resting or feeding there : silence and 

 undisturbed tranquillity must predominate and be observed at all times 

 in the locality of the decoy. The success or failure of the enterprise, 

 both as regards enticing the birds to alight in the open water, and 

 the ultimate proceeding of alluring them up the pipe, depends mainly 

 on the quietude of the whole scene around, and the absence of all in- 

 terruption to the decoyman and his dog: to accomplish which 

 effectually, the proprietor must secure possession of surrounding 

 lands, to such an extent as to be able to command the necessary 

 calm, and subdue all disturbance and interruption. Wells, in his 

 History of the Fens,f observes that the decoy " should be surrounded 

 by forty or fifty acres of plantation." But this must depend on the 

 size of the pond and nature of the locality. 



The pond itself should be surrounded with trees and copse ; and 

 near the water's edge, reeds and sedges should be cultivated and per- 

 mitted to flourish ; all which tend to preserve the quietude of the 

 water, and afford security and shelter to the birds. The decoyman's 

 cottage should be near, though not within four or five hundred 

 yards of the pool : it should be well sheltered and hidden by trees 

 and shrubs ; and the pathway leading to the pond should be under 

 the cover of a quickset hedge, or through a sheltered lane. 



The fens around should be as carefully kept quiet and unmolested 



* Lubbock, speaking of the privacy of decoys, remarks : " And here, in fact, the 

 knowledge of many, even of naturalists, terminates ; for it is not always an easy 

 task to obtain admission to a decoy." 



t P. 447. 



