178 MACHETES PUGNAX. 



" When a hill has been discovered, the fowler repairs to 

 the spot before the break of day, spreads his net, places 

 his decoy birds, and takes his stand at the distance of 

 about 140 yards or more, according to the shyness of the 

 birds. 



" The net is what is termed a single clap-net, about 17 feet 

 in length and 6 wide, with a pole at each end. This, by 

 means of uprights fixed in the ground, and each furnished 

 with a pulley, is easily pulled over the birds within reach, 

 and rarely fails taking all within its grasp ; but in order to 

 give the pull the greatest velocity, the net is (if circum- 

 stances will permit) placed so as to fold over with the wind. 

 However, there are some fowlers Avho prefer pulling it against 

 the wind for Plovers. As the Ruffs feed chiefly by night, 

 they repair to their frequented hill at the dawn of day, 

 nearly all at the same time ; and the fowler makes his first 

 pull according to circumstances, takes out his birds, and 

 prepares for the stragglers who traverse the fens, and who 

 have no adopted bill. These are caught singly, being enticed 

 by the stuffed birds. 



" Burton, who was before mentioned, never used anything 

 but stuffed skins, executed in a very rude manner ; but some 

 fowlers keep the first Ruffs they catch for decoy birds. These 

 have a string of about two feet long tied above the knee, and 

 fastened down to the ground. 



" The stuffed skins are sometimes so managed as to be 

 moveable by means of a long string, so that a jerk represents 

 a jump, (a motion very common amongst Ruffs, who at the 

 sight of a wanderer flying by will leap or flirt a yard off the 

 ground,) by that means inducing those on wing to come and 

 alight by him. 



" The stuffed birds are prepared by filling the skin with a 

 whisp of straw tied together, the legs having been first cut 

 off, and the skin afterwards sewed along the breast and 

 belly, but with no great attention to cover the straw beneath. 

 Into this straw a stick is thrust to fix it into the ground, and 

 a peg is also thrust through the top of the head, and down 

 the neck into the stuffing or straw body, and the wings are 

 closed by the same process. Rough as this preparation is, 



