260 lewis' AMERICAN SPORTSMAN. 



barrelled Duck-guns, ensconce themselves at break of day behind, 

 some one of the numerous blinds temporarily erected along the 

 shore contiguous to the feeding-grounds of these Ducks. 



" Everything being arranged and the morning mists cleared 

 off, the Ducks will be seen securely feeding on the shallows not 

 less than several hundreds of yards from the shore. The Dog 

 is now put in motion by throwing stones from one side of the 

 blind to the other. This will soon be perceived by the Ducks, 

 who, stimulated by an extreme degree of curiosity, and feeling 

 anxious to inform themselves as to this sudden and singular 

 phenomenon, raise their heads high in the water and commence 

 swimming for the shore. The Dog being kept in motion, the 

 Ducks will not arrest their progress until within a few feet of 

 the water's edge, and oftentimes will stand on the shore staring, 

 as it were in mute and silly astonishment at the playful motions 

 of the animal. 



" If Avell trained, the Dog takes no notice whatever of the 

 Ducks, but continues his fascination until the quick report of 

 the Battery announces to him that his services are now wanted 

 in another quarter, and he immediately rushes into the water 

 to arrest the flight of the maimed and wounded, who, struggling 

 on every side, dye the water with their rich blood. 



" The discovery of this mode of decoying Ducks was quite 

 an accident, being attributed to a circumstance noticed by a 

 Sportsman, who, concealed behind a blind patiently awaiting 

 the near approach of the Canvass-Backs, observed that they 

 suddenly lifted up their heads and moved towards the shore. 

 Wondering at this singular and unusual procedure on the part 

 of this wary Bird, he naturally looked round to discover the 

 cause, and observed a young Fox sporting on the river bank ; 

 and the Ducks, all eagerness to gaze upon him, were steering 

 their course directly for the shore.* 



" These Ducks will not only be decoyed by the Dog, but will 



* Be this as it may, this peculiar faculty of fascination on the part of the 

 Dog has been long known and practised on the decoy ponds of England, to a 

 much more limited extent, to be sure, but still sufficient to show that these Wild 

 Fowl Shooters, or rather Nettcrs, understand the whole bearing of the operation. 

 For further information on the suliject, we refer our readers to Bewick's account 

 of the decoy dpons. 



