Page 126 HISTORY OF DECOYS.

HISTORY OF DECOYS ( continued ).



CHAPTER IX.

DECOYS IN THE COUNTY OF MIDDLESEX.

Decoys in use. None.	Decoys not in use. St. James's Park.

DECOY IN ST. JAMES'S PARK.
THOUGH difficult to realize at the present day,yet formerly a Decoy existed in St. James's Park. It was situated at the west end of the lake, which at that time was straight and formal, and called " The Canal." The Decoy was placed in an island, then known as the Duck Island. That this Decoy was not a trap Decoy, but a Pipe Decoy, as they are now fashioned, there can be no doubt, on taking into consideration the material used in its construction. It was made by Charles II, who was devoted to wildfowl and other birds, and who spent all his spare hours in feeding his ducks and fondling his spaniels, of which latter he had so many about his court that they were in contemporary journals written down a nuisance. Evelyn writes, March 29, 1665 His Majesty is now finishing the Decoy in the Park." The following, which I derive from Cunningham's "Handbook of London," vol. ii. P. 434, gives full details of the cost of making this Decoy :- To Edward Maybanke and Thomas Greene for digging the Decoy, and carrying out the earth and levelling the ground about the said Decoy, Ł128 2s. 11½d. To Edward Storey, keeper of the King's birds, for wyer and other things used about the Decoy, and for 100 baskets for the ducks, Ł8 9s. To S^r. George Waterman for several netts for the Decoy, Ł15 3s. To James Rimes for plants and 400 bolts of reeds for the use of the Decoy, Ł15 11s. 8d.