THE ART OF CAPTURING WILD-FOWL BY DECOY. 6? 



decoy-pipe with, such about him. It is usual to keep a dress for the 

 purpose: gray or light-brown-coloured garments are best adapted 

 for the decoy. 



The decoyer must be cautious, in his operations at the pipe, not to 

 expose himself to the wild-fowl which may be upon the broad water ; 

 and to prevent this, the reed-screens are so ingeniously placed that he 

 can easily avoid doing' so. The birds are supposed to have been en- 

 ticed far enough up the pipe to ensure their capture, when arrived at 

 that screen where, owing to the curve in the pipe, nothing can be 

 seen of their deluded companions by those remaining* in the pool.* 



The best time of day for taking wild-fowl at the decoy is about 

 one or two o'clock ; and the best weather, cold, with severe frost. 



Wild-fowl sometimes alight in decoys on moonlight nights, more 

 particularly when led there by wandering decoy-ducks. 



It is only by broad daylight that the decoyer practises his subtle- 

 ties : all attempts by moonlight would be fruitless. 



The general season for working the decoy is from the end of 

 October to February. 



It must not be supposed that the whole of the birds in the decoy 

 are taken at once : there are generally several drifts, or separate en- 

 ticements, before a whole paddling can be secured. As many as five 

 or six dozen have been taken at a single haul, which is considered a 

 large number; and as many as an ordinary tunnel-net will hold. 

 When there are very large numbers of fowl in the pond, the decoyer 

 keeps at his art during the whole day, gradually thinning the numbers 

 by a few dozens at every distinct enticement. 



In whatever part of the decoy the wild-fowl may be, the fowler 

 has means of discovering them, by peeping through some or other of 

 the reed-screens ; and thus he is able to reckon them up, observe 

 their movements, and discover whether they are banked or other- 

 wise : and if there are only a small number present, and it be not late 

 in the season, the fowler will not disturb them ; because he may 

 fairly expect them to return another day, when the chances are 

 much in favour of their being* accompanied by a more numerous 

 retinue. Such is often the prestige of the decoyer. 



* " The whole art consists in this, that the birds within the pipes may see the 

 fowler, those in the pool not seeing him. So, those only seeing him, these, not- 

 withstanding, often enter the pipes ; and so sometimes, besides those the fowler 

 drives before him, there are others taken the second or third time." WillugKby's 

 Ornithology ; by Ray. 



