190 



In Quest of 

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The trained geese which were often used 

 — descendants of sundry wing-tipped or 

 wounded birds that had been saved to breed 

 in captivity — were very different from Old 



n)€AV/lQ Graylag. When the honk of wild geese was 



4~ 



heard and the long wedge wavered over the 

 pond, these trained birds would be loosed to 

 circle far out from shore and with wild 

 clamor call down their wilder kinsfolk. Then 

 slowly, cautiously, as if they knew well the 

 treacherous work they were doing, they 

 would lead the wild birds in towards the 

 blind till within range of the hidden gunners, 

 when they would scatter suddenly and rush 

 aside to get out of the way ; and the decoyed 

 and wondering geese would be left open to 

 the murderous fire of the concealed hunters. 

 An evil work, it seemed to me, in which I 

 am glad to remember I took no part be- 

 yond that of watching with intense interest, 

 and wondering at the cunning patience with 

 which the old pot-hunter had trained his 

 wild confederates. 



Watching these trained decoys one day, 

 it was hard to realize that the birds were but 



