on Bird-Catching in India.



265



into a net, lighted torches being used for the purpose. Another

method, displaying considerable ingenuity on the part of the

duck-catcher, is as follows. A man goes into the water where

the ducks are, his whole body being immersed except his head ;

this is inserted within a globular earthen jar, such as is com¬

monly used for carrying water in. Peep-holes in the side of the

jar enable the wearer of this extraordinary head-gear to see

where he is going. Having approached his quarry, the duck-

catcher quietly takes hold of the legs of a duck from below ;

and before the owner of the legs has time to cry “ Quack ! ” it is

quickly drawn under water. Here, transferred to a bag, or

fastened to its captor’s waist, the unfortunate duck soon drowns.

For a few days previous to his sallying forth amongst the ducks,

the catcher floats several empty jars—such as he intends to wear

over his head—upon the lake where the ducks congregate. As

soon as they have become accustomed to the floating jars, the

catcher dons one, and enters the water.


The trap-cages used in India much resemble those em¬

ployed in England. Tike the majority of Indian bird-cages,

they are made of thin strips of cane, or bamboo, tied together

with twine; perforated cross-bars of the same material tend to

add strength to the structure. The trap portion is sometimes at

the side of the apartment occupied by the call-bird ; sometimes

above it; and often both positions exist in the same cage. The

door is held open by a twig, which, being liberated by the

entrance of a bird, causes the door to close, by means of a strip

of cane and a piece of twisted twine, which together act as a

spring. The trap-cage is particularly useful when it is desired to

catch small birds which congregate in parties or flocks. The

calling of one bird is sufficient to attract the whole lot, chiefly

owing to their inquisitiveness and extreme sociability.


I shall now pass on to consider the remaining agent

ordinarily employed in bird-catcliing, namely, bird-lime. As

prepared in India, it is a mixture of three ingredients: a milky

exudation obtained by striking the bark of the peepul tree with

a stone ; expressed oil of mustard-seed ; and a resin of arboreal

origin. These three things are melted together in a vessel over

a fire, and heated until the required consistence is attained. For



