THE BUCK. 



in height as the ditch decreased in width, so that the renj'rto 

 end -was not more than eighteen inches in height. The poles 

 were placed about six feet from each other, and connected by 

 poles laid lengthwise across the arch and tied together Over 

 the whole was thrown a net which was made fast to a reed 

 fence at the entrance, and nine or ten yards up the ditch, and 

 afterwards strongly pegged to the ground. 



" At the end of the ditch furthest from the^ entrance, was 

 fixed what was called a ' tunnel-net,' of about four yards in 

 length, of a round form, and kept open by. a number of hoops, 

 about eighteen inches in diameter, 

 placed at a small distance from 

 each other to keep it distended. 

 Supposing the circular bend of 

 the ditch to be to the right, when 

 one stands with his back to the 

 lake, then on the left hand side, < 

 a number of reed fences were con- 

 structed, called ' shootings,' for ^^^^^^ ducks. 

 the purpose of screening the decoy 



man from observation, and in such a manner that the fowl in 

 the decoy might not be alarmed, while he was driving those 

 that were in the pipe. These shootings, which were ten in 

 number, were about four yards in lengthj and about six feet 

 high. From the end of the last shooting, a person could not 

 see the lake, owing to the bend of the ditch, and there was 

 then no further occasion for shelter. Were it not fpr these 

 shootings, the fowls that remained about the mouth of the 

 ditch would have been alarmed if the person driving the fowls, 

 already under the net, should have been exposed, and would 

 have become so shy as entirely to forsake the place. 



" The first thing the decoy man did, on approaching the 

 ditch, was to take a piece of lighted turf or peat and to hold 

 it near his mouth to prevent the birds from smelling him. He 

 was attended by a dog trained to render him assistance. He 

 walked very silently about half way up the shootings, where a 

 small piece of wood was thrust through the reed-fence, which 

 made an aperture just large enough to enable him to see if 

 there were any fowls within ; if not, he walked forwai d to see 

 if any were about the entrance of the ditch. If there were he 

 stopped, made a motion to his dog, and gave him a piece of 

 cheese to eat ; when the dog went directly to a hole in the 

 reed-fence, and the birds immediately flew off the bimk into 



