46 BROADLAND SPORT 



natural an appearance as possible. Further, carry a cover 

 for the dug-outs, so that when leaving them you can not 

 only exclude the dust and elements, but also, by sprinkling a 

 little soil over the cover, you leave the ground with no 

 ostensible appearance of disturbance. 



The position of the decoy birds, again, varies in ac- 

 cordance with the sportsman's fancy. Some prefer them all 

 on one side, others in a line, some only two or three in number, 

 and some, on the other hand, in enormous quantities. But we 

 have always found that a dozen posted in natural positions is 

 amply sufficient. 



The best all-round gun for this class of decoying, in our 

 humble opinion, is a double 8- bore, full choke, with No. 3 

 chilled shot right barrel, and No. 1 left. Weight is not so 

 much a serious consideration, as you have not to carry the gun 

 about very much ; whereas, if you wish to combine flighting, 

 decoying and marsh work, the best plan is to go in for a 

 double 10-bore, 30 in. barrel, full choke, substituting No. 2 for 

 No. 1, and No. 4 for No. 3 shot. 



The actual artificial decoys with which we are acquainted 

 are as multitudinous as they are various in design. We will 

 comment briefly upon a few of them. 



First, there are the stuffed birds. If these are intended to 

 be used on uplands or marsh, they are either set up on small 

 boards (fastened by pegs), or upon wooden or iron supports, 

 which can easily be stuck into the ground, good care being 

 taken that, in placing them, their natural attitude, appearance 

 and altitude are made as natural looking as possible. 



The position of the decoy birds, according to the varying 

 circumstances under which they are used, will be found of the 

 utmost importance. 



Take, for example, wood-pigeons on trees. If, as is too 

 often the case, they are shaped with head erect and wide- 

 awake appearance, their posture would convey the impression 

 to the real birds arriving that they had just alighted or saw 

 danger near, thereby at once exciting suspicion. Whereas, if 

 made with heads down, all snug, and properly fixed, facing the 



