Hoop
The curved rods of wood or iron which span the pipe like arches and support the netting.
Landings. Smooth banks at the mouth of the pipe on either side; that on the inner curve being termed the back-wing-landing, that on the outer curve the breast-wall-landing.
Lending Birds. - Wildfowl that have been accustomed to rest in the decoy, and which, though not likely to be caught, are useful in attracting others.
Paddling. A flock of fowl on the water.
Pipe. The long curving net-covered ditch up which the fowl are induced to swim. The averman. the outer edge of the decoy to conceal the decoyman. Of these there are three kinds. (I) The Breast-wall screens, two in number, covering the landing at the mouth of the pipe, 18 ft. and 12 ft. long respectively. (2) The working screens round which the dog works, eleven in number, and ranged "in echelon," connected by the dogjumps. The working screen nearest the mouth is usually about 28 ft. long, the others about 12 ft. each. (3) Back screens, which conceal the fowler when running back to the mouth of the pipe.
Of these there are three, each 30 ft. in length.
All screens should be about 6 ft. high.
Stale birds.-Fowl that have frequently visited the decoy, but have lost interest in the actions of the dog.
Tunnel-net, bag-net, or purse-net.-The net at the extreme end of the pipe into which the fowl are eventually driven. It is detachable from KEEPER AND DOG WORKING A PIPE. THIS SHOWS CLEARLY THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE SCREENS. age dimensions are:-height at mouth, 15 ft.; width, 27 ft., gradually diminishing towards the end of the tunnel-net (q.v.). The average depth of water is 8 to 12 in., so as to hinder the fowl from diving back. Length, about 80 yards. Birds which swim up under the netting are said "to pipe."
Piper. The dog whose actions attract the notice and curiosity of the fowl and allure them up the pipe; usually a small spaniel, but any little dog of a light colour may be taught the work if intelligent.
Purse-net.-[See TUNNEL-NET.] Reed-edges.-[See ACCOMMODATION TUFTS.] Rising of the Decoy. - The flight of the ducks from the pond about twilight when they leave for the marshes to feed during the night.
Screen.-Fences of reed erected by the side of the main portion of the net, and is usually about 15 ft. in length.
Yackoop. The dog-jump (q.v.) between the breast-wall screens (q.v.).
For hints as to the construction and management of a decoy the reader may be referred to the following bibliography.
J. E. HARTING.
Bibliography. - Fauna of Norfolk, Revd. R.
Lubbock (Jarrold), 1845, 2nd edition, 1879; The Wildfowler, H. C. Folkard (Longmans), 1859, 1864, 1875, and 1897; Norfolk Decoys, in Transactions Norfolk and Norwich Naturalists' Society, Volume II., 1879, Southwell; Norfolk Broads and Rivers, H. V. V. Davies (Jarrold), 1897; The Fowler in Ireland, Sir R. Payne-Gallwey (J. Van Voorst), 1882, also The Book of Dutch Decoys, 1886; Wildfowl Decoys in Essex, in the "Essex Naturalist," Vol. II., J. E. Harding, 1888.
DEER. -Many species of deer are to be found in different parts of the world, Australasia and Polynesia being among the regions where no species of the cervine kind are indigenous. In the continent of Africa only one variety of the cervines is to be met with; this is the Barbary stag found in Tunisia and Algeria.
Red Deer. This animal has been dealt with elsewhere in the articles on 'Deer Stalking" and "Red Deer." It is to be noted that British red deer have been introduced into New Zealand, where, under favourable climatic conditions, they have flourished exceedingly, developing fine heads and affording grand stalking. European red deer, other than British, need no particular notice save that the Carpathian race (Cervus elaphus var) seems to be a form intermediate between the western races of Europe and the Asiatic red deer, or Maral.
The Corsican red deer (C. elaphus corsicanus), found in Corsica and Sardinia, is the smallest race of the species, in which the bez tines of the antlers are lacking, and the coloration is dark brown in summer and blackish in winter. The Barbary stag (C. elaphus barbarus), found in Algeria and Tunisia, is also very closely allied to the European red deer. In this race the bez tines are also frequently wanting. Traces of small, irregular white spotting are found on the pelage of these deer. The Caspian red deer, or Maral (C. elaphus Maral), is a fine species, often carrying magnificent antlers, which has its habitat from the Carpathians of Galicia and from the Crimea into Asia Minor, the Caucasus, Trans- Caucasia, and the Caspian Provinces of Northern Persia. A good_stag of this race will scale 560 lbs., and carry antlers measuring as much as 48 inches over the curve. This is a first-rate sporting beast, of which trophies have been obtained by Mr.
F. C. Selous, Mr. St. George Littledale, and a few other British hunters.
The Hangul or Kashmir Stag (Cervus cashmirianus), often called the Barasingha, is a grand species of red deer, found chiefly in the forests to the north of the Vale of Kashmir and in the Sind Valley. It carries good antlers, attaining as much as 481/2 inches over the curve, but the points seldom exceed twelve in number. Its normal habitat varies in altitude from as much as 12,000 feet in summer to 5,000 in winter. The winter coat of this animal is dark ash brown or liver colour, and the light rump patches [DECOYS are small. This deer affords excellent, but very difficult, stalking. The best season for shooting is October.
The Yarkand Stag (Cervus Yarcandensis), found in one or two localities in Eastern Turkestan, is a fine but scarce deer, whose antlers are not often obtained by European sportsmen. The body colour is a light reddish fawn, and the rump patches are large and conspicuous. The antlers are very good, but seldom exceed ten points.
The Shou or Sikhim Stag (Cervus affinis). A large and heavy deer, carrying horns of very peculiar formation, which may be at once recognised. They are long and heavy in beam, measuring as much as 5534 inches, but the points seldom exceed ten in number. One head, procured in Tibet by Lieut.-Colonel Iggulden, however, carried thirteen points. The upper part of the antlers bend forward very singularly so as to overhang the face. The habitat of this magnificent stag has not yet been precisely ascertained. Although often called the Sikhim stag, it is very doubtful whether this deer is found in that country at all, the climate there being too damp for it. A better name would be the Bhutan stag. It is found in the Chumbi Valley and other neighbouring valleys in Bhutan. From there these deer are not encountered until the Bramaputra Valley is reached, where they are found on high mountains at an elevation of from 13,000 to 18,000 feet.
They are believed to range as far east as the Bramaputra Falls. They are also known to frequent the bare hill country to the east of Lhasa, up the Kichu Valley, and as far as the Kham country. The Shou of the Chumbi Valley and Bhutan, which live a good deal in forest country, are said to carry smaller heads than those found in Tibet, although the latter inhabit bare and exposed country at very high altitudes.
The colour of this grand stag is pale rufous brown; the rump patches are light in winter, and there are pale rings round the eyes.
Thorold's Deer (Cervus albirostris).- Another large deer, allied to the Hangul, carrying good horns, and found on the high plateau of Tibet, north of Lhasa. Few antlers of this stag have yet been obtained by Europeans. These are of peculiar type, smooth, white, and flattened, having no bez tine, and bending suddenly backward from the trez tine. The colour of this deer is dark brown, curiously speckled, the muzzle, chin, and inner surface of the ears being white.
Wapiti. The North American wapiti (Cervus canadensis) is dealt with in another part of this publication. For many years it was supposed that these splendid DEER] deer were only to be found in that continent. More recently it has been discovered that various species, all more or less closely connected with the North American form, inhabit Asia.
Thian Shan Wapiti (C. canadensis songaricus). This is a fine deer, found in the forest regions of the Southern Altai and the Thian Shan ranges, Central Asia. The biggest antlers yet recorded measure 55 inches over the outer curve. This stag is somewhat greyer than its relative of North America, and the rump patches are narrow and more orange in hue.
Manchurian Wapiti (C. canadensis Xanthopygus). - Not many specimens of this wapiti have been brought home by European hunters. Found in Northern Manchuria and Amurland, this deer carries antlers which are much shorter and considerably stouter than those of the Thian Shan and American races, the record specimen measuring no more than 33/4 inches over the curve. The best head for points is one in the possession of the Duke of Bedford, which carries fifteen. The summer coat of this species is reddish brown, which changes in winter to a brownish grey.
Siberian Wapiti (C, canadensis (C. asiaticus). Very little is at present known of the appearance and habits of this species, which is found in the Northern Altai range and Siberia. It appears to be more or less closely related to the Thian Shan wapiti, but is of inferior stature, and is said to carry more tines. Its winter pelage is said also to be lighter in hue.
Bactrian Wapiti (C. canadensis bactrianus). This species, discovered in recent years in Tchenkend and some neighbouring districts in Turkestan, carries antlers inferior in size to the Thian Shan and American wapiti. The best pair known— in the possession of the Duke of Bedfordmeasure as much as 40 inches over the curve, and carry ten points, 6+4. colour of this stag is of a peculiarly light grey, and dark markings on the lips serve to differentiate the species from other wapiti.
The Reindeer and Caribou have been dealt with at length elsewhere in this work, as also have the Elk or Moose of Europe, Asia, and North America. Very recently a new and curious form, distinguished by the peculiar formation of the antlers, has come to light in East Siberia. This is the East Siberian Elk (Alces machlis bedfordia), a race differing markedly from its congeners in other parts of Asia, Europe, and America, in that there is usually no palmation of the antlers. Palmation, as all sportsmen and naturalists are aware, is one great characteristic of these gigantic deer.
Mr. R. Lydekker, the well-known naturalist, is disposed to regard this species as the ancestral form of the elk group. The antlers of this race carry, usually, four or five large tines on either side. Specimens of this singular elk are to be seen at the Natural History Museum and in the collection of the Hon. Walter Rothschild at Tring.
Japanese Sika (Cervus sica typicus).— The Japanese deer, or Sika, is a representative of a hardy race of deer, found in Japan, Manchuria, and North China. These deer are considerably inferior in size to the red deer, a good specimen of the Japanese Sika measuring 2 ft. 8 in. or 2 ft. IO in. at the shoulder. The antlers also are of shorter and simpler type, generally carrying four tines on either side. The summer coat is a bright chestnut-red, well sprinkled with white spots; in winter the colour is brown, with few or indistinct traces of spotting.
These are capital sporting animals, affording good stalking wherever they are to be found. When well fed and in good condition, they attain a weight of 12 or 13 stone, clean. They acclimatise very readily in Europe, and are frequently to be seen in English parks. Here and there they have also been liberated in Scottish deer forests, with fair results.
Manchurian Sika (C. Sica manchuricus). - This is a somewhat larger deer than the last named, measuring as much as 3 ft. 3 in. at the withers. The antlers are of the same character and of much the same length, neither species often exceeding 25 or 26 inches.
Formosan Sika (C. [pseudaxis] taevanus). - This deer, a mountain dweller, found on the island of Formosa, is about on a par in stature with the Japanese Sika.
The antlers are somewhat inferior, the best specimen hitherto recorded attaining no more than 1934 inches. The winter pelage of this deer carries much of the ruddy summer colouring, and the coat is distinctly spotted even in the cold season.
Pekin Sika (C. [pseudaxis] hortulorum). - This fine deer is distinguished from the rest of the group by its greater size and stature-it measures in good examples as much as 4 feet at the shoulder. The head and neck are bluish grey, and the handsome rufous coat is richly flecked with white.
In winter the does retain much of the spotting as well as of the bright summer colouring, while the adult male deer assume a very thick and shaggy coat and lose the spotting. This species is found in the Ussuri district of North-East Manchuria.
A smaller race, known as (C. Hortulorum Kopschi), is met with in the Yang-tse Valley.
Fallow Deer are dealt with elsewhere.
Sambar or Sambur (Cervus unicolor).- The typical race of this great deer, found in