on Bird-Caicliing in India.



2 63



ends, to keep it in position. Looking at the closed nets, after

the string has been pulled, they form with the surface of the

ground an equilateral triangle—in other words, they resemble

the gable of the roof of a house. Naturally, the birds which are

caught in clap-nets are those whose custom it is to feed upon the

ground. These include Crows, Larks, Starlings, Wagtails,

certain Babblers, Doves, Finches, etc. Food is sprinkled between

the nets as they lie open upon the ground, several birds being

generally caught at once. The bait may consist of seed, grain,

boiled rice, maggots, etc., according to the kind of bird it is

desired to catch. The maggots used are the larvae of the

common fly, bred in a mixture of cow dung and blood, and

afterwards cleansed by being shaken up with dry earth. After

this process, the maggots are perfectly sweet and wholesome, and

quite free from any unpleasant odour. Shamalis, some Drougos,

and Rollers are sometimes caught in nets ; but more frequently

by a special method with bird-lime, to be described later on.

For Kites, a piece of raw meat is placed upon the ground between

the nets, upon which the bird swoops. Tommy Atkins occa¬

sionally amuses himself, in a simple way, by catching Kites. He

takes a piece of raw meat, and, having tied it in the centre of his

blanket, stretches the latter upon the ground in an open space.

Kites in India being more numerous than Blackbirds in Eng¬

land, Tommy Atkins has not long to wait before down swoops

a Kite in a graceful curve, to clutch the meat in its talons.

Its claws having become caught in the blanket, the unhappy

Kite finds itself temporarily a prisoner, the artful soldier

immediately rushing up to secure it. A Kite is a more unerring

catch in mid air, than the cleverest point” who ever stood

upon a cricket field. Frequently have I tossed a dead rat into

the air. when a Kite has been wheeling about overhead. Quick

as lightning has the bird turned, swooped, and caught the

descending rat in its talons, before the latter had time to fall

to the earth.


Those Kingfishers which are partially land-feeders are

captured by means of a very fine net stretched upright between

two sticks. The net is very loosely hung in folds, and the bait —

generally a lizard—is placed near it upon the ground. Upon



