ANCIENT METHODS OF CAPTURING WILD-FOWL. 9 



puddles in severe weather, and consequently with the greater pro- 

 spect of success.* Springes were also made with a running knot, and 

 set with sticks fi-eshly cut from a growing elm, or other tree of flexihle 

 substance : they were freely employed for taking snipes and wood- 

 cocks. f 



These ancient devices for taking wild-fowl by the neck or legs, and 

 frequently by both, were highly successfid ; they were simply by 

 means of nooses or running knots, made of horse-hair (generally black 

 or dyed), fastened to stakes, and placed in small openings among- 

 sedges and rushes, or in any such places as the fowler, from his pre- 

 viously acquired knowledge of their haunts, deemed most favourable 

 to his pursuits. Two or three of the nooses were secured to each 

 stake ; and as many as three or four dozen stakes so fitted, were 

 occasionally in use at the same time, pricked out in a small space 

 frequented by wild-fowl. It was a favoiu'ite practice of the ancient 

 wild-fowler to set snares of this description in marshes and plashes 

 where the water was not above a foot and a-half in depth ; and by 

 scattering handfuls of grain, two or three days in succession, about 

 the spot best adapted to his purpose, the snares were spread with 

 greater prospect of success. 



Archery was anciently a mixed military and sportive exercise, and 

 was successfully used in fowling. In the sixteenth century, when 

 shooting with the long bow had become so perfect an art, it was 

 esteemed above all other contrivances for taking wild-fowl ; and for 

 some time after the invention of g'uns, the long bow was preferred as 

 the best and most practicable means that could be employed for the 

 pui'pose.l A statute was accordingly passed, prohibiting the taking 

 of wild-fowl in any other manner.§ 



To such perfection had the art arrived in those days, that we find 

 the same author asserting elsewhere, that shooting with the " longe 

 bowe" was declared the "principal of all other exercises," for he 

 adds — " And, in myne opinion, none may be compared with shoot- 

 yng in the longe bowe, and that for sundry vtilities that come thereof, 

 wherein it incomparably excellethe al other exercyse." 



* Vide " The Compleat Sportsman ;" by Giles Jacob : a.d. 1740. 



+ Vide " Jewell for Gentrie ;" by Jno. Helme : a.d. 1614. 



X "i sliaU hereof more siDcake in an other place, and retourne nowe to the seconde 

 vtylitee founde in shotynge in the longe bowe, which is kyllj^e of deere, wylde fowle, 

 and other game ; wherin is bothe profyte and pleasure above any other artyUery." — 

 The boke named " The Governour ;" by Sir Tlvomas Elyoto, Knyght : 1557. 



§ Vide Introduction. 



