DECOYS AND HOW TO USE THEM 



49 



all three being kept in their respective positions by a fore- 

 and-aft anchor attached to the rear and leading birds. But 

 we do not believe in so large a number as the Americans seem 

 partial to. 



Perhaps many will wonder at the notches cut under the 

 support-board, or just above the keel, therefore we will 

 explain their use. Many shooters, on picking up their decoy 

 birds, or " stales " as they are more often called, wind the wet 

 anchoring and connecting lines round the necks. This may 

 be all very well for a time, but it soon destroys and injures 

 their appearance ; so to remedy it we wind our lines round 

 the keel, with the assistance of these notches, 

 where they are securely held without detri- 

 ment to the birds. 



Under this division might also be included 

 the canvas-made decoys, which are to all in- 

 tents and purposes the same as stuffed birds. 

 The pattern is taken from a live bird, and 

 the canvas cut out to measure, sewn up and 

 stuffed (body with cork, head and neck with 

 tow), the exterior being painted to complete 

 the deception. We have made these, and 

 used them, finding they answer well in 

 fact, if anything, better than the wooden 

 ones, the balancing arrangements of the 

 latter being the only thing that makes them 

 the better of the twain. 



With regard to the shape of your dummies, of course it is 

 best to get it as near to perfection as possible ; yet, at the 

 same time, you will not find the wild birds so very exacting 

 in this respect as you would suppose. They see the dummies 

 bobbing about, and on fine or calm days, after wheeling and 

 hovering round awhile, drop to them. On finding out their 

 mistake they do not at once fly away, but often remain 

 some time unless suspicions raise an alarm. 



And now a word as to the species best to be represented. 

 Golden eyes do very well for short-winged fowl, which 



