Evening star., 1901-05-31

decoy pond without being seen by a single
duck, though the water within twenty
yards OF him is alive with them, and the
air full Of duck noises, quacking, scolding
''bibbling," splashing, Tapping of wings
and the rest. Peeping through the holes, it
was almost as difficult not to laugh as for
a boy In church when he sees a mouse
come out on the pulpit steps. There were
the same solemnity and imperative need of
silence, yet the contrast between the swag-
ger of the ducks on the pond and the pic
ture of what they would have felt like IL
they had known who were near them was
almost irresistible
PrOfusiOn Of Fowl
There were about eight hundred Of all
kinds. some in the water, some on the ice
for the center of the pond, and. alasi all
but one Of the pipes. were frozen. Those
on the ice were mostly asleep. But in the
water scores of mallard were swimming
diving, or. rather. washing themselves.
quacking and fighting. The brakes were
the offenders, rushing at other brakes and
biting them. or pulling their feathers, like
spiteful children pulling each others hair.
The wfdgeon were mostly on the other
side Of the pond. playing in the water.
whistlfng, and making a great deal of
noise. Scores of wild duck. as well as
the decoy ducks. which are marked with
white to distinguish them from the others
were at the mouths of the pipes. Some
were SO far up that our decoyman, motion
ing to US to be STILL slipped up the screens
and suddenly showing himself scared four
down the pipe. On they flew, till the tun-
mel became too narrow to fly, when they
ran, and helplessly poked their heads
against the netting. A falling door was
dropped behind them. and the pipe net with
its hoops attached. Up this they crawled
and were taken out. their necks wrung
and tossed into the sack. All this went on
without the ducks round the corner" hav-
ing the faintest idea of what was going on.
Coasting round the circle. past two more
pipes. and peeping through the screens on
the opposite side, we heard a great COM
motion among the widgeon. Looking
through the screens, 1t was evident that
they were having a great wash. All sea-
duck come to wash In fresh water. and
as the sun was coming out these widgeor
had begun their toilet In the most bolster
Gus way. They were rushing over the
water. doing steamers" churning I'D the
foam. diving. whistling, flying and chasing
each other The sound of wings beating
on the water was incessant, and the pic
ture. seen through the glasses. quite beau
tiful. The water was celadon gray. but
each wave caught the white light from
the sky. and in this white and gray set
ting the bright-colored red-headed ducks
were in incessant motion.
Unfortunately, there was a skin Of ice
on the pipes. and the duck would not de
coy" though the dog did her best. Her
master took piece OF bread in one hand
and a knife IN the other. STOPPING behind
the screens, he first cut a small chip of
bread and threw 1t In front between the
screens. Then he threw a piece back, be-
tween the screens behind him. This was
repeated rapidly as he could cut the
bread. the dog following In the direction
in which the bread was thrown, and never
missing her run round the screen. how
ever varied the direction or however diff
ferent the number Of circuits indicated
round each screen. The duck swarmed up
to the mouth Of the pipe. watching the
dog, but the ice prevented their advance
within driving distance. The dog was
clearly aware that the duck were not do
ing what was wanted, and went on round
two three screens on her own account
after her master ceased to throw the bread.