THE MALLARD. 
191 
" lu the lakes where they resort,” says the corres- 
{''Ddeut of that ingenious author, “ the most favourite 
^Uitts of the fowl are observed : then, in the most 
j^luestercd part of this haunt, tliey cut a ditch about 
yards across at the entrance, and about fifty or 
yards in length, decreasing gradually in width 
the entrance to the farther end, which is not more 
I two feet wiilc. It is of a circular form, but not 
'•ftding much for the first ten yards. The banks of 
f ® lake, for about ten yards on each side of this ditch 
li®*' pipe, as it is called) arc kept clear from reeds, coarse 
,.®^age, &c. in order that the fowl may get on them to 
and dress themselves. Across this ditch, poles on 
side, close to the edge of the ditch, are driven into 
f ® ground, and the tops bent to each other and tied 
These poles at the entrance form an arch, from 
j top of which to the water is about ten feet. This 
is made to decrease in height, as the ditch decreases 
"idth, till the fimther end is not more tlian eighteen 
jJ'^lies in height. The poles are jdaced about six feet 
each other, and connected together by poles laid 
ll*'gthwise across the arch and tied together. Over 
a net, with meshes stiflicicntly small to prevent 
f. * fowl gidting through, is thrown a(;ross, and made 
to a reed fence at the entrance, and nine or ten 
Up the ditch, and afterwards strongly ))egged to 
n ® ground. At the farther end of the pipe, a tunnel 
as it is called, is fixed, about four yards in length, 
round form, and kept open by a number of hoops 
,|.^Ut eighteen inches in diameter, placed at a small 
tj^*^nce from each other, to keep it distended. Su]iposing 
® circular bend of the pipe to be to the right, Avhen you 
with your hack to the lake, on the left hand side 
fjj^dmhcr of reed fences arc constructed, called shootings, 
^ purpose of screening from sight the decoy-man, 
« ^ 'n such a manner, that the fond in the decoy may 
(ji 1*6 alarmed while he is driving those in the pipe : 
*'*oetings are about four yards in leng'th, and about 
>li r number. They are placed 
the following manner — 
e 
