« The general feafon for catching wild fowl in decoys, is 

 from the latter end of October to the beginning of February, 

 the legiflature forbids taking them from the lft of June to 

 the nth of October, under a penalty of five millings for 

 every bird destroyed within that time. 



" The Lincolnshire decoys are commonly let at a certain 

 •annual rent, from fifteen to twenty pounds a year ; and there 

 js one in Somerfetfhire that pays thirty pounds. The former 

 contribute principally to fupply the markets in London. 

 Amazing numbers of ducks, widgeons, and teal are taken, by 

 an account of the number caught a few winters part, in one 

 feafon ; and in only ten decoys, in the neighbourhood of 

 Wainfleet, it appeared to amount to thirty-one thoufand two 

 hundred, in which are included feveral other fpecies of ducks." 

 Latham quotes an inftance, where two thoufand fix hundred 

 and forty-fix Mallards were taken in two days near Spalding ; 

 they appeared to be young birds before they were able to fly : 

 this mode is now prohibited. 



As is ufual with moft of this genus, the wild ducks 

 leave this country in the fpring, retiring northward to 

 breed, and return to us at the fall of the year in prodigious 

 numbers, difperfing themfelves over the marfhy waftes in 

 the different parts of this kingdom ; but few remain with us 

 throughout the year, thefe breed in the fens, and their young 

 are not fo fhy as thofe that migrate, and are fuppofed to be 

 the original flock of our domeflic duck, which has become 

 varied in plumage, as is common with all animals that are 

 domeflicated ; they however always retain the curled feathers 

 on the tai|. 



The 



