203 BAY-SNIPE SHOOTING. 



and will make a decoy scarcely distinguishable by 

 man from the living prototype, but apparently more 

 unnatural to the birds — which are sometimes alarm- 

 ed at its ghastly appearance — than the ordinary 

 stools. 



Very perfect stools are made of India-rubber, 

 which, being compressible and light, can be readily 

 transported, and are a deceptive imitation ; their 

 principal defects are their liability to injury from 

 shot— which is also the case with wooden ones — and 

 the facility with ij'hich the hole where their long leg 

 is inserted becomes torn — an accident that entirely 

 destroys their usefulness. They can be packed in a 

 small compass, and are infinitely the best article 

 where they are to be carried long distances. Al- 

 though of necessity undersized, their full plump shape 

 makes them visible at a considerable distance. 



To prevent the bills, which are the most delicate 

 part, from being injured, it is necessary to make 

 them rather thicker than those of the living bird ; 

 they are to be painted dark-brown, blue, or grey, ac- 

 cording to circumstances ; and their loss, although 

 it may not diminish the attractiveness, destroys the 

 beauty of the fictitious flock. More important than 

 perfection of decoys, is accuracy in whistling ; this 

 should be a perfect imitation and answer to the call 

 of the bird, and will often allure him to the fowler 

 without any decoys whatever. It is impossible to 

 describe the calls on paper, and long practice will 

 alone give a thorough knowledge of them ; they are 

 generally shrill and loud ; the shriller and louder the 



