286 WITJI XATUFxE AND A CAMEBA. 



releases a small door above its head wliicli instantly 

 closes, and eventually the little prisoner finds its 

 way, al()n<i' with five or six others, to a bird dealer's 

 shop in the nearest town. 



Larks are caught on dark nights, as they roost 

 u23on the ground, by means of a net fifty yards 

 long and eigliteen feet deep. It is mounted on 

 two poles, one at either end, and carried along by 

 a couple of men with the top about four feet off 

 the ground and the bottom just touching the grass, 

 so as to disturb the sleeping birds and make tliem 

 rise. Directly a Lark flutters upwards the net is 

 dropped, and the victim, discovered by its efforts 

 to escape, is taken out. Sometimes several birds 

 are secured at one drop of the net, and often Par- 

 tridges, Fieldfares, and Coots have also been taken. 

 Of course, it is of no use attempting this kind 

 of nocturnal sport where fields have been " bushed" 

 by gamekeepers to jJi'event poachers from netting- 

 Partridges. 



There are some favourite bird - catching places 

 during the autumn migration at considerable dis- 

 tances from Brighton, and when the men intend to 

 visit these they start the night before so as to l)e 

 on the ground they intend to work by dawn the 

 followiny mornin"". 



]Most of the birds cauglit on the Downs find 

 their way to the London markets ; the live ones to 

 such {[uarters as Great Andrew Street, Seven Dials, 

 and tlie dead ones to Leadenliall. 



The cliai'acter of the ground u|)()n wliicli we 

 found nets spread did not a])pear to excicise any 

 influence, as might liave l)eeii siipj)()sed, ovei' tlie 

 men in tlie selection of tlieii' pitches. \\v found 

 some on stubble and land from which root cro])S 

 Itad been removed, Avhilst others were trying their 



