372 THE WILD-FOWLER. 



the most remarkable methods ever invented; and approaches the 

 nearest to the system of decoy as practised in England, of any of the 

 arts employed by the people of a foreign country for the capture of 

 wild fowl. The method alluded to is termed " toling." I am unable 

 to trace the origin of the term, unless it simply implies a death knell, 

 for such it assuredly assumes to those birds which approach within 

 range of the secreted sportsman. This singular proceeding is said to 

 have been first introduced upwards of fifty years ago, near Havre de 

 Grace, in Maryland ; and according to traditional testimony, the art 

 was accidentally discovered by a sportsman whilst patiently lying in 

 ambush, watching a paddling of wild ducks, which were a little beyond 

 the range of his gun. Whilst in a state of doubt and anxiety as to 

 whether they would approach near enough to be shot, he suddenly 

 observed them raise their heads and swim towards the shore, apart from 

 his ambuscade ; and whilst wondering at the cause of so strange a 

 proceeding, his attention was directed to a fox, which was skipping 

 about on the shore, and evidently enticing the ducks to approach. 

 This accidental discovery of so weak a point in the nature of the 

 feathered tribe, led the sportsman to turn it to his own advantage ; 

 and thence arose the curious art of toling. To practise it successfully 

 the sportsman requires simply the services of a dog, which he uses in 

 a similar manner to that of a piper, as employed at an English decoy. 



For the purposes of toling, the American sportsman erects blinds 

 or screens on the margin of some lake, the resort of wild fowl. When 

 any birds are in sight upon the water, he, with his dog, takes up a 

 position behind the screens ; and, by throwing chips of wood or small 

 pebbles up and down the shore, he keeps the dog in active motion, so 

 as to attract the attention of the birds, and induce them to swim to- 

 wards the shore within a few yards of the screens ; which, if they do, 

 the sportsman immediately discharges his fowling-piece at them, and 

 sometimes kills large numbers at a shot. The principal things to be 

 observed are, a strict silence, and to keep the dog constantly in motion, 

 and all the time in sight of the ducks. The little animal should be 

 encouraged to skip and bound over the rocks or stones in front of the 

 screens, and to flourish his tail about with playful vivacity. He must 

 never bark, for that would alarm the fowl, and cause them to fly away 

 immediately. 



Red or chesnut-coloured dogs, with long bushy tails, are best for 

 the purpose of toling : the nearer they approach in colour and 

 appearance to a fox the better. 



