WILD-FOWL, a popular term, synonymous with water-fowl, and generally applied to web-footed birds, but sometimes employed also to include herons, plovers, and other birds which frequent rivers, lakes, and sea-shores. The different kinds are noticed under their proper is one of the most difficult, and yet one of the most interesting pursuits of the British sportsman. Rock-fowling (see FOWLING) is not included under this term. Wild-fowling is prosecuted in a great variety of ways. The wild fowler seeks his game with a gun and dog, generally a retriever; or he uses a small boat, called a punt, adapted to the shallow waters in estuaries which wild-fowl frequent; or he proceeds a little further to sea, in a boat with sails; sometimes he employs a yacht, or he endeavors to approach his game on land by the aid of a stalking-horse; or he has recourse to decoys, and other contrivances, by which great numbers of wild-fowl are captured. It is chiefly on the eastern and south-eastern coasts of England that wild fowl abound in Britain, and they are most abundant in severe winters, coming as migra tory birds from the north; but the draining of the fen-lands has greatly reduced their numbers. The ancient Greeks and Romans captured wild-fowl by various kinds of nets, one of which, called the argumentum, was not unlike the modern decoy-pipe, the birds, however, being generally driven, and not enticed into it. The Panthers was a large purse or drag-net, placed along the banks of rivers. The ancient wild-fowlers some times practiced a system of apparently less perfect than the modern system, but essentially of same nature, enticing the birds to their snares by movements intended to excite their curiosity, and for this purpose the fowlers clothed themselves in feathered jerkens, and danced with peculiar motions and gestures. Nooses and bird lime were also much employed in ancient times. The Egyptians made much use of the throw-stk1.4 a missile similar to the boomerang of the Australians, and which was dex terously thrown so as to hit the neck of the bird. In more recent times, falconry was
much practiced for the capture of wild-fowl. The gun, decoys, and flight-ponds are now chiefly in use. Although many wild-fowl are killed with the ordinary fowling piece, it is not thus that the greatest numbers are obtained. Much larger guns are used in punts and yachts, by which many are killed at one shot. The stalking-horse is still used in smite parts of England, in order to enable the wild-fowler, armed with an ordi nary fowling-piece, to get within reach of the birds, whilst they are feeding on the level swampy ground which they chiefly frequent. A horse well trained for the purpose, advances toward'them, the fowler concealing himself on the side of it furthest front them. An ox is sometimes trained for this use, and indeed the kind of animal with • which the birds are most familiar in the locality is most suitable. Artificial stalking horses are sometimes employed, made of canvas, and stuffed yitli straw, the head being down, as if grazing. This practice is common in some parts of France. The use of the stalking horse is very ancient. Wild-fowl shooting is not unattended with danger. In pursuit of wounded birds on the ooze, the sportsman or fowler must use splashers. thin boards about 18 iu. square, attached to the feet. to prevent him from sinking; and if he fall, it is very difficult for him to regain his feet. He cannot raise himself by reslinm his hinds on the mud, which only makes him sink deeper and deeper, nor can he do it by getting upon his knees. The only method is to roll over on the back, draw ing the arms out of the mud, and placing one foot with his splasher firmly on the ooze, to press both hands on the knee of the leg so raised, and give a vigorous spring. The punter is also in great danger of losing himself in foggy weather when pursuing wounded birds, and being unable to get back to his punt, when a fearful death awaits him on the return of the tide.