NOOSING WATERFOWL. 285 
lagoons, which is frequented by these birds, and 
upon which there is grass, or other food that they 
like near the edges, the natives get a number of 
strong reeds, bend them in the middle, and force 
the two ends of each into the ground, about seven 
inches apart, forming a number of triangles, with 
their uppermost extremities about five or six inches 
from the ground. From these, strings are suspended 
with slip nooses, and when a sufficient number are set, 
the natives go away, to let the ducks come up to 
feed. This they soon do ; and whilst poking their 
heads about in every direction a great many push 
them through the snares and get hung. 
Noosing waterfowl is another general and very 
successful mode of taking them. It is performed by 
a native, with a tat-tat-ko, or long rod, tapering like 
a fishing rod, but longer, and having a piece of 
string at the end, with a slip noose working over the 
pliant twig which forms the last joint of the rod. # 
This being prepared, and it having been ascertained 
where the birds are, the native binds a quantity of 
grass or weeds around his head, and then taking 
his long instrument, plunges into the water and 
swims slowly and cautiously towards them, whilst 
they see nothing but a tuft of grass or weeds 
coming floating towards them, of which they take 
no notice, until coming close upon them he gently 
raises the tapering end of the instrument, and care- 
fully putting the noose over the head of the bird, 
draws it under water towards him. After taking it 
* Plate 4 , fig. 1 . 
