£94 



M A L L A R D. Class II. 



by the hempfeed ; the latter will dive under water, 

 whilft the wild fowl fly on, and are taken in the 

 purfe. 



It often happens, however, that the wild fowl 

 are in fuch a tlate of Qeepinefs and dozing, that 

 they will not follow the decoy-ducks. Ule is then 

 generally made of a dog, who is taught his leffon : 

 he pafTes backwards and forwards between the reed 

 fkreens (in which are little holes, both for the 

 decoy-man to fee, and for the little dog to pafs 

 through) this attracts the eye of the wild fowl, 

 who not chufing to be interrupted, advance towards 

 this fmall and contemptible animal, that they may 

 drive him away. . The dog, all this time, by di- 

 rection of the decoy-man, plays among the fkreens 

 of reeds, nearer and nearer to the purfe-net \ till at 

 lad, perhaps, the decoy-man appears behind a 

 fkreen, and the wild fowl not daring to pafs by 

 him in return, nor being able to efcape upwards 

 on account of the net-covering, rufn on into the 

 purfe-net. Sometimes the dog will not attract their 

 attention, if a red handkerchief, or fomething very 

 lingular, is not put about him. 



The general feafon for catching fowl in decoys, 

 is from the latter end of Oftober till February ; the 

 taking of them earlier is prohibited by an act 10. 

 George II. c. 32. which forbids it from June 1, to 

 OEIober 1, under the penalty of five fhillings for 

 each bird deftroyed within that fpace. 



The Liticolnjhire decoys are commonly let at a 



certain 



