300 ITS DESTRTJCTIVENESS. 



away with them several of the meshes : — " On these 

 occasions, you cannot observe tliat the net has in the 

 slightest degree impeded the progress of the birds, Avhich 

 shoot through it like a bullet ; and are only made aware 

 of their presence by a slight vibration, and by a dull 

 sound resembling the twang of a bow-string." 



If full daylight, it happens that one or other of the 

 flocks of fowl perceive the net in sufficient time to avoid it. 

 As they, however, for tbe most part, keep to the middle of 

 the strait, or sound, over which it is set ; and as several 

 species — the Eider and the Long-tailed Hareld more 

 especially — seldom or never in their fligbt cross the 

 smallest headland, there is no fear of their outflanking 

 it. Nor will they fly over it : and if, therefore, they do 

 escape, it is by wheeling about and retracing their course. 

 Though this net is more particularly intended for the 

 cajiture of the birds specified, it happens that others — 

 such as the Widgeon, the Tufted Duck, the Common 

 Scoter, the Merganser, and the llazor-bill, are taken by 

 its means. The last-named is a rather " troublesome cus- 

 tomer." Its flight is so very rapid, tbat a net capable of 

 holding an Eider, a much larger bird, is often broken by 

 it ; and when a prisoner, moreover, it defends itself 

 gallantly, and will often take a piece of flesh out of the 

 hand incautiously laid on it whilst in the meshes. Great, 

 at times, is the havoc committed by the " Fogel-NJit." 

 We read, indeed, of one hundred couple and upwards of 

 the Long-tailed Hareld having l)een taken at a single 

 haul, so to say, of this very destructive engine. 



In the winter-time, again, such of the fowl as pass 

 that inclement season on the more southern coasts of 

 Scandinavia, are subject to much persecvition ; for when 

 compelled by hunger to resort to " TFakar,'" or openings 

 in the ice, caused by currents or otherwise, they are 

 slaughtered by various expedients in great numbers. 



