THE BULVAN. 93 



When the snow lies deep on the ground in winter, 

 many Black-Cock are taken in the night time, hy 

 torch-light, and hy means of a sort of landing net ; hut 

 as this method of capture has been described when 

 speaking of the Capercali (see page 70), I will not weary 

 the reader by repeating the story. 



A very common plan of shooting the Black-Cock in 

 the winter time is with the aid of a "Bulvan,'^ or artificial 

 decoy bird.* This is affixed to the top of a long and 

 slender pole — or of two poles tied together — which is then 

 hoisted a little above the top of a birch-tree, standing on 

 an eminence, that it may be seen from a distance. The 

 fowler then conceals himself in a " screen," constructed of 

 a few fir boughs previously prepared for the purpose. 

 Here he patiently awaits the coming of the birds, and 

 when, attracted by the "Bulvan," or driven towards it by 

 people patrolling the surrovmding country for the purpose, 

 they alight in the tree on which the .decoy is placed, or 

 on those in the immediate vicinity, one or other of them 

 usually meets its doom. 



At times two or three individuals take part in this 

 amusement, and if there be several wooded knolls in the 

 same locality, each may be occupied to advantage by a 

 jjigare and his " Bulvan," for as the birds, when alarmed 

 at the shot, keep flying from one " Bulvan " to the other. 



* A stuffed Black-Cock is tlie best for the piiqiose ; but, in lieu 

 tliei'eof, an imitation one may be made out of an old bat, or piece of dai-k- 

 coloured cloth. Two small patches of red cloth, one on each side of the head, 

 represent the combs over the eyes, and two others of white stuff the white 

 spots on the bii-d's shoulders. The tail of a veritable Black-cock is usually 

 affixed to the " Bulvan," but should not this be procurable, one made of 

 black cloth, and lined with white, can be substituted in its stead. Legs 

 are not required, the stick to which the " Bulvan " is fastened supplying 

 their place. At times, however, the " Bulvan" Ls carved out of a piece of 

 wood, and afterwards painted. 



