210 DUCK-DECOYS. 



from the first entrance, is a continued arch of net- 

 ting suspended on hoops ; it is necessary to have a 

 pipe for almost every wind that can blow, as upon 

 this circumstance it depends which pipe the Ducks 

 will take to ; and the decoy-man always keeps to 

 leeward of the flock, taking the additional precaution 

 of keeping a piece of turf burning to prevent their 

 scenting him. 



Along each pipe, at certain intervals, are placed the 

 reed screens, which hide the decoy-man, until the 

 moment when it is necessary for him to show him- 

 self, namely, when the birds have passed up the pipe 

 to which they are led by the trained birds, who know 

 the whistle of the decoy-man, or are enticed by the 

 hemp -seed. A dog, which is generally preferred of 

 a reddish colour, is also trained to play backwards 

 and forwards between the screens; and by sud- 

 denly appearing, and running round a screen, the 

 birds are attracted towards him. When a sufficient 

 number of Ducks have thus fairly passed up the 

 pipe, the decoy-man comes forward from behind the 

 screens, upon which the whole flock, unable to fly 

 upwards on account of the hoop-net above, rush 

 onwards to a funnel-net which opens on the land, 

 where they are caught without difficulty ; the trained 

 birds are of course immediately turned loose again. 

 If well managed, a good decoy has been known to 

 produce several hundred pounds a-year. 



Many birds manifest almost reasoning powers in 

 eluding pursuit, or turning attention from their 

 nests and young ; but few perhaps more than the 

 Duck tribe, of which the following may be adduced 

 as an instance, from Captain Back's Narrative of his 



