28 THE WILD-FOWLER. 



The punts employed by tlie ancient Egyptian fowler were con- 

 structed of the trunk of the papyrus,* and were propelled by a 

 setting'-pole or paddle, with a blade at one end. In a frail little bark 

 of this nature, he glided noiselessly in pursuit of his diversion, among 

 the sedges of the Nile ; where wild-fowl have always been abundant, 

 though more especially so at the periods of inundation. f 



Many of the fowlers' traps and nets which are used in England at 

 the present day for catching wild birds on land, are very similar 

 to those employed by the ancient Egyptians ;| more especially the 

 clap-net, which is nearly identical, though probably the Egyptian net 

 was the larger ; as the united strength of several persons appears to 

 have been necessary for pulling the rope by which the net was 

 suddenly collapsed. 



This was evidently a very successful means by which they cap- 

 tured wild-geese and ducks, as there are many different representations 

 of it in the plates :§ and it seems to have been more particularly em- 

 ployed for taking these and other water-fowl j for which purpose 

 it was placed flat on the ground, in the fens or other haunts of such 

 birds J and, a long rope being connected with the collapsing appa- 

 ratus, five or six persons were stationed at the farther extremity of 

 the rope, whose duty it was to take the end of it in their hands, on a 

 given signal from the fowler ;|| and, by drawing it suddenly and 

 sharply, it collapsed, and encompassed any birds which might have 

 been lured within its circumference. 



The spot usually selected for these operations seems to have been 

 one where a sufficient ambuscade could be had within sight of the 

 net, behind which the Xivottt-j/cH placed himself; and from this place 

 of concealment he watched the arrival of the fowl, and signalled to 

 his assistants when to get ready, and when to draw the rope and 

 close the net. 



The practice of salting quails, ducks, and small birds, in Egypt, 



* Conf. Lucan, iv., 136. Pliny, xiii., 11. Plut. de Isid, s. 18. 

 t WiUrinson, vol. iii., cap. 8. 



X The Egyptian bird-traps were emi^loyed for taking land-bii-ds. This work pro- 

 fesses to treat of water-fowl only. 



§ Vide ChampoUion, vol. ii., plate clxxxv. ; vol. iv., plates cccxciv. and 

 cccLXXVii. (his). 



II " Un liomme cache dans les tiges de papyrus indique le moment ou Ton doit 

 tirer la corde passee autour d'un poteau." — Cham/pollion, vol. iv. 



^ The fowler performing this part of the operations was so styled by the Greeks. 

 — Vide Julii Polluc. Onomasticon. 



