NETTING SEA-BIRDS ON THE WASH. 28 1 



The success was not quite so great the next night, which 

 was calmer, but about forty Plover, Curlew, etc., were 

 taken. 



Mr. Stevenson, who gives his readers some interesting 

 particulars (B. of Norf, II., 376) — in part supplied by me — 

 enumerates twenty-one species as having been taken in 

 these nets, but the number is below the mark. I will select 

 a day in proof from Mr. Cresswell's gamebook, in which 

 three additional ones are mentioned. 



I suppose a high tide laid the nets under water, which 

 would account for the diving birds. Coots are now and 

 then caught in the same way. 



Mr. Stevenson (1. c.) remarks that sixty Dunlins have 

 been taken in one night : I think that is very likely. 

 Thirty-six Knots have been, and on one occasion sixty 

 Oystercatchers, and nothing else ; but the best haul was 

 seven Grey Geese at one swoop, which rolled themselves 

 up in one little bit of net into such a ball, that it had to be 

 cut to pieces to get them out. 



With Mr. Cresswell's permission I will give the total take 

 for eleven consecutive years : — 



Birds. 



