18 THE WILD-FOWLER. 



fowl of the largest species were taken at nig-lit, at the moment 

 of sweeping- over the ground at very low flight, just before alighting. 

 And it would appear that this method of fowling was particularly 

 successful in taking plovers, which generally alight on the ground 

 thickly congregated together. 



A similar method was employed for taking wild-fowl with lime- 

 strings placed over the surface of rivers and ponds frequented by 

 those birds, and apparently with remarkable success. For this pur- 

 pose it was necessary to procure a waterproof birdlime wherewith to 

 dress the strings, which were knotted in a similar manner to those 

 employed for taking birds on land. The strings so prepared were 

 placed at an elevation of about two feet from the water,* and arranged 

 in serpentine coils from stake to stake; the stakes being forked 

 at top, and of similar form to those last described, but of sufficient 

 length to reach the bottom of the water and obtain a firm fixing 

 in the mud. Some of the stakes were placed on the bank of the 

 water, or in any manner so that the lime strings could be drawn 

 across and about the surface in different directions, resting here and 

 there on some or other of the stakes, or any boughs or branches of 

 overhanging trees ; in such a way that the birds, when in the act of 

 alighting on the water at night, might strike against the lime-strings 

 and become therein entangled. 



The principal secret of success in this and the preceding device, 

 was that of placing the lime-strings in shaded places, over the most 

 assured haunts of the birds ; and it was only obtained on dark nights 

 or in good shade, for whenever there was sufficient light for the birds 

 to see the least sign of the snare spread for them, the fowler had no 

 chance of making any captives. f And, as wild-fowl in their descent, 

 just before alighting on the water, diverge from their accustomed 

 angular figure, and spread themselves more in a broad front line, a 

 whole flight sometimes came swooping into the fowler's snare all 

 at once.J 



Another ancient mode of fowling was by means of lime-twigs — 



" Various, too, the snares he'd spread ; 

 Along their paths he'd lime-twigs lay, 

 Or spread the hair-noose in their way" — 



* Blome. 



t " And be sure to take this caution, not to use these strings in moonsliine nights ; 

 for the shadow of the lines will create a jealousy in the fowl, and so frustrate your 

 sport." — Blome. 



X Hunger's Prevention. 



