Efforts to Check the Slaughter 79 



beech nuts, is a prominent consideration in the selection 

 of a nesting ground. As the feed in the vicinity of the 

 nesting becomes exhausted, the birds are compelled to 

 go daily farther and farther- for food, even as high 

 as seventy-five or one hundred miles, and these trips, 

 which are taken twice a day, are known as the morning 

 and evening flights. 



The apparatus for the capture of wild pigeons con- 

 sists of a net about six feet wide and twenty to thirty 

 feet long. The operator first chooses the location for 

 setting his net, which, it is needless to add, is in utter 

 disregard of the State law, which prescribes certain 

 limits within which nets must not be placed. A bed of 

 a creek or low marshy spot is chosen, if possible at a 

 natural salt lick, or a bed of muck, upon which the 

 birds feed. The ground is cleared of grass and weeds, 

 and to allure the birds the bed is "baited" with salt and 

 sulphur several days before the net is to be placed. A 

 bough house is made about twenty feet from the end of 

 the bed, and all is ready for the net and its victims. A 

 bird discovers the tempting spot, and with the instinct 

 of the honey-bee, returns and brings several others, 

 while these in turn bring a multitude, and in less than 

 two days the bed is fairly blue with birds feeding on 

 the seasoned muck. 



The net is then set by an adjustment of ropes and a 

 powerful spring pole, the net being laid along one side 

 of the bed, and the operator retires to his bough house. 



