CHAPTER XII. 



THE ART OF CAPTURING WILD-FOWL BY DECOY. 



[Continued.] 



" Aucupari gratiam alicujus assentatiuncula." 



PLINY. 



THERE are many considerations to be regarded by the fowler before he 

 proceeds to put in force the means at hand for working 1 the decoy-pipe. 

 It is not at all times and on every opportunity that it would be judi- 

 cious to attempt taking- wild-fowl in the decoy, though the water may 

 be well covered j and an unsuccessful attempt may do much injury. 

 The fowler has to consider first, the species of fowl which have come 

 to visit the decoy : if they are teal, he will probably try them at 

 once ; if ducks, he will take an early opportunity in the course of the 

 day ; but before doing 1 so, he will have to decide if the wind be favour- 

 able and the weather suitable. If the birds appear restless or other- 

 wise suspicious, which may generally be known by their movements 

 in the decoy ; or if they keep in the centre, far away from the shore, 

 they are supposed to be too wary to be enticed ; and must be left in 

 quiet possession of the waters two or three days, until they approach 

 the bank fearlessly, and associate freely with the decoy-ducks. 



He will also have to consider if the season of the year be early, 

 mid-season, or late. If early, there are generally so many young- 

 birds among them, that the fowler may resort at once to his 

 manoeuvres with decoy-ducks and dog' ; and if he is a good hand at 

 his business, he will generally succeed with the first flight. During 

 mid-season he acts cautiously, and only attempts his stratagems 

 when tolerably sanguine of good success. Later in the season the 

 fowler's best skill is required, as the birds become exceedingly 

 vigilant. Large numbers are not then often expected; and the 

 decoyer has to practise his artifices upon small flights, but always 

 with extreme caution, whilst the weather continues " open," as the 

 term is, in appliance to cold weather without ice ; but if the weather 



