THE ART OF CAPTURING WILD-FOWL BY DECOY. 63 



skelter, in wi!4 affright, they rush from the presence of the fowler, 

 up the pipe, and into the tunnel-net, from which they never return ! 



Such is but a faithful glimpse of the theory of decoy, as viewed 

 from the watery stage in front of the screens. It will now be our 

 purpose to enter fully and practically into the performances behind 

 them. 



The proceedings of the decoyer behind the screens are simply 

 artful, though deeply interesting ; but few amateurs have ever been 

 fortunate enough to obtain permission to accompany the fowler 

 through his stratagems ; success depending so very much upon the 

 caution and quiet of his performances. His only companions, during* 

 operations, are one assistant, a dog, and a few decoy-ducks. With 

 these, and no others, the decoyman proceeds to put in force his 

 curious art ; and he must not be interrupted, nor must the attention 

 of dog or ducks be diverted from the one object in view. There are 

 many reasons why he should be as much by himself as possible, when 

 in the act of enticing the fowl up the pipe more particularly, the 

 necessity of not exciting the suspicion of the birds ; which are so very 

 susceptible of noise, motion, and smell, that the decoyer himself ap- 

 proaches not an inch nearer than is absolutely necessary, and is 

 obliged to carry a piece of burning peat or turf in front of him, that 

 the acute nasal organs of the wild birds may not detect the presence 

 of a human being so close at hand. 



So essential is it for the decoyer to observe all these rules of cau- 

 tion, that no success can be expected upon the least infringement or 

 carelessness of operation ; and, whatever the duties of his calling, he 

 must never venture on the windward side of the birds without a 

 brand of turf. Sound and motion, as well as effluvia, each travel like 

 electricity to the eyes, ears, and nostrils of the vigilant species of 

 wild-fowl ; and the careless decoyer who presumes to act regardless 

 of precaution, will have the mortification of seeing every wild-fowl 

 leave the water on detection of his presence behind the screens : 

 besides, the more birds there are in the decoy, the more watchful they 

 are ; consequently, the greater is the caution required. 



All the fowler's observations are made by peeping through small 

 apertures in the reed screens ; to facilitate which, short pieces of 

 stick, pointed at one end, are generally stuck in every screen ; so 

 that, by gently thrusting one of such pieces between the reeds, a 

 temporary peep-hole is made, which closes of itself, on withdrawing 

 the stick. 



