FLIGHTING 137 



twenty-five to fifty wildfowl constantly wheeling round and 

 round the pool. The temptation to shoot them will be great, 

 but it must be resisted, and they must be left entirely alone 

 and undisturbed, feeding being increased in accordance with 

 the numbers that require it. Should the birds flight out to 

 neighbouring waters, or to cornfields and stubbles where you 

 have the shooting rights, and you wish to take toll from them, 

 there is no reason why it should not be done by concealing 

 yourself in their line of flight or on their feeding grounds ; 

 but it is not advisable for a shot to be fired, either by night 

 or day, within a quarter of a mile of the sanctuary. 



In October the migratory birds begin to arrive, and by the 

 first week of November a strong lead in to the decoy pool 

 should have been procured. Or, in other words, the semi-tame 

 home birds should have made their presence known to the 

 migratory fowl, and to the birds inhabiting other waters, 

 which travel afield at flighting times in search of food. 

 They do this either by visiting neighbouring waters where 

 their feathered relatives congregate, returning in company 

 with them, or by their incessant quacking and circling round 

 their own secure retreat at flighting time, as is their wont, 

 induce other fowl to lower their line of flight and visit the 

 water. The strangers are generally so pleased with their first 

 visit and the bounteous hospitality of the feeder that they are 

 certain to come again on the following evening, more often 

 than not bringing other fowl with them. Thus does the fame 

 of the diminutive piece of water spread through local duckdom. 



It is this lead in which is the secret of the success of a 

 decoy -flighting pond. It is the one and only pivot upon 

 which the whole sport depends. Therefore, the reason why 

 the water is left so long quiet and undisturbed should be 

 apparent. 



On one pool the fowl were shot during the month of 

 September, but the experiment was never repeated. About 

 five-and-twenty birds were bagged, but the remainder took 

 fright and left the water, few if any returning; no home 

 birds were left to establish a lead in, and despite constant and 



