CHAPTER XL 



THE ART OF CAPTURING WILD-FOWL BY DECOY. 



And as a skilful fowler birds employs, 



Which by their well-known voice and treach'rous noise 



Allure their fellows, and invite to share 



Their fate, entangled in the viscous snare." 



Trans, from the Latin of VANIEEE, B. xv. 



WE have now arrived at the most interesting part of the proceed- 

 ings the modus operandi at the decoy. Having given the reader 

 an outline of the pond, the pipes, the decoy-ducks, and the piper, he 

 will be better able to understand the manner in which they have to 

 be employed : but before going minutely into the details, it may 

 facilitate our description by stating, theoretically, the science of cap- 

 turing wild-fowl by decoy. 



The retired situation of the pond, the quietude of the surrounding 

 country, the fresh water, and the presence of live fowl upon it, are 

 sufficient, in this instance, to decoy the aerial travellers to make their 

 first false step, when they are cordially welcomed with the wooing 

 notes of the decoy-ducks ; and, in language peculiarly their own, 

 these pleasant occupants of the pond tell the hungry strangers flat- 

 tering tales of abundant food, and a safe retreat within that fair 

 domain. 



Soon as the fowler discovers the arrival of the strangers, he takes 

 careful note of wind and weather j and, with a basket of tail-corn slung 

 across his shoulder, proceeds to the weathermost pipe, and scatters 

 freely a few handfuls of the food upon the surface of the water ; 

 whistling softly to his decoy-ducks, which never fail to respond to the 

 call j when the strangers, seeing and hearing the others greedily and 

 undisturbedly feeding upon the floating grain, follow their new com- 

 panions, and join in the repast. They are then like bosom-friends, 

 swimming happily together, hither arid thither about the water j but 



