niarfhy and uncultivated country, wl:iere th^ wijd fowl maj 
fecurely fleep during the day-time. 
The decoy confifls of feveral pipes (as they aie called) 
which lead up a narrow ditch, which clofes at laft with a, 
funnel net. Over thefe pipes, which become narrower from 
the firft entrance^ is fixed a continued arch of netting fufpended 
OB hoops. There is ufually a pipe or ditch for almoft every 
wind that can blow, as the wild fowl are determined by this 
circumftance which pipe to choofe, and the decoy-man always 
keeps on the leeward fide of the ducks, to prevent his effluvia^ 
from reaching their fagacious noftrils. Skreens made of reeds 
are placed at certain diftances along each pipe in fuch a manner, 
that it is impoflible for the wild fowl to fee the decoy-man, 
before they have paffed towards the end of the pipe where th^. 
net is fixed. 
In the evening when the wild fowl begin to feed^ tl^e 
decoy rifes, and the noife of their wings^ in their flight, may 
be heard at a great diftance. The rifing of the decoy is in 
Somerfetfhire called redding. The decoy ducks are fed with 
hemp-feed, which is thrown in fmall quantities over the fkreens 
to biing them forward into the pipes, and to, allure the wild 
fowl to follow. They are fo trained as to lead the way after 
hearing the whiftle of the decoy-man, and enticed by the 
hemp-feed, and to diye under water whiift the wild fowl fly on, 
and are taken in the nets. When they are in fuch a lleepy ftate 
as not to follow the decoy -ducks, a fmall dog is m.ade to pafs, 
betweea the fkreens, which approaching gradually nearer and 
nearer to the purfe-net, draws the attention of the wild fowl, 
and makes them advance forward ; at length the decoy-man 
appears behind a ikreen^ and drives them into the net. 
•5^ Th^ 
