204 THE ESSEX NATURALIST.
acted for the others. This decoy was in full use in 1936, according
to the "International Wildfowl Inquiry," Volume I, from
which the figures for the number of ducks caught over a period
of twelve years have been taken:
The Grange (Essex)
These figures give an average of 1732 per annum.
In 1890 the tenant was Mr. Charles Page, of Dengie Hall,
who had been in occupation for 34 years. In 1918 Mr. Atten-
borough was stated to be the owner. In so far as I can ascertain
this is the only Essex decoy which has been in full use since its
construction. Christy in his The Birds of Essex shows a good
plan of this decoy.
4. Marsh House Decoy is situated in Tillingham Parish
and is the property of the Dean and Chapter of St. Paul's.
The pool is about an acre and a quarter in extent. It lies
threequarters of a mile due west from the coast and one and
three-quarter miles east of Tillingham and at a distance
gives the impression of a copse on the marsh.
It had six pipes, but as an excellent description of this decoy
is given in the account of the practice of decoying the reader
is referred to that chapter for further details. Payne-Gallwey
stated that this decoy was one of the oldest in Essex and was
probably two hundred years old, but Christy proves that it
was not so ancient, having been constructed towards the end
of the eighteenth century. An old rate-book in the vestry
at Tillingham gives the names of former tenants as : 1795,
Mr. Mascall; 1797, the Rev. Sir Henry Bate Dudley ; 1805,
Mr. Alston ; 1811, Mr. Kebbell, and in 1815, Mr. R. Willes ;