50 BROADLAND SPORT 



include pochards, tufted ducks, rattlers, et hoc genus omne. 

 But for mallard, teal, widgeon and all long- winged fowl in 

 fact, short- winged and all-round general duck shooting there 

 is nothing to equal good representations of duck and mallard. 



Secondly, there are the wooden imitations. These can 

 be bought at almost any gunsmith's or naturalist's, and, 

 in our opinion, are far away the best for wear, efficiency 

 and economy. No fresh figures are necessary to illustrate 

 their manufacture, as they are almost identical to Figs. V., 

 III. and IV., with, of course, the exception of the water-line or 

 floating-board. One thing is very important, and that is 

 not to have them too shiny and bright, with which the 

 uninitiated are so fascinated. On the other hand, the wood 

 had better be prepared with size, or something of that kind, 

 prior to painting, for unless this be attended to the wood 

 will absorb the paint without being rendered water-resisting 

 or showing the colours to advantage. 



Thirdly, there is another species of wooden decoys which 

 we remember once to have seen, but as it is some time ago, 

 and our memory not of the best, we are afraid our explana- 

 tion will not be so lucid as we should like. It was fashioned 

 somewhat after the style of the American silhouette decoy, 

 which, we presume, is known to be the outline or profile only, 

 and painted as the others. Those intended for use on terra 

 firma were pivoted on a stake, whilst those for the water 

 were pivoted on a "float-board." Each was in two pieces, 

 and thus easily packed, carried and stowed away. We have 

 never shot over them or seen them in actual use, so we 

 cannot speak as to their efficiency, but we should consider 

 that a duck, looking from an angle of 45 deg. (about the 

 average elevation when dropping to a decoy), would hesitate 

 before placing implicit confidence in so meagre, skinny and 

 gaunt an object. 



Fourthly, we have the indiarubber substitute, either with 

 or without an inflation tube, its object, of course, being to 

 facilitate stowage and transit. But they are easily disposed 

 of, for a single shot striking them (by no means an unusual 



