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Mr. E. W. Harper,



the value of fresh air and cold water ; but they do not see any

joke in a biting nor’-easter or a dull bitter east wind, and retire

of their own accord to the snug shelter of the birdrooin, where,

with an abundance and considerable variety of food close at hand,

they can ride out the roughest gale in comfort and safety.



BIRD-CATCHING IN INDIA.


By E. W. Harper, F.Z.S., M.B.O.U.,


Member of the Bombay Natural History Society.


Probably very few members of the Avicultural Society

have ever indulged in the sport of bird-catcliing; except, per¬

haps, in the days of their childhood, by means of the old-

fashioned brick-trap, or a sieve supported upon one side by a stick.

But I can assure them that, to anyone who is keenly interested

in birds, the art is intensely interesting; and, what is more

satisfactory still, there is generally something to show for one’s

trouble. Besides, one is able to study the habits of our feathered

friends in their natural haunts, which, to an aviculturist, is both

instructive and useful. And, I may add, a certain amount of

knowledge of the habits of birds is necessary to obtain success

in the pursuit of bird-catching.


Speaking generally, the English bird-catcher has little to

learn from his Indian confrere: clap-nets, trap-cages and bird¬

lime being the means chiefly adopted both in England and India.

But, as I shall endeavour to show later on, the great variety of

birds in the latter country, with their different habits, often

necessitates special methods of capture.


Clap-nets in India consist of two nets, each about ten

yards long and four yards broad. These are placed upon the

ground, parallel to each other, four or five yards apart; the ends

of the nets being fastened together. One side of each net is

pegged to the ground, the other side having a string running

along it. When the string is pulled, it causes the side of each

net through which the string runs to rise, so that both nets meet

overhead, each net having a stick stretched across it at both



