130 ORNITHOLOGICAL RAMBLES. 



fourpence a dozen of the price usually demanded 

 for those which are taken by lark-nets during the 

 winter months. 



I must now say a few words on the latter mode 

 of capture, as practised in the neighbourhood of 

 Brighton, where these birds form a very consi- 

 derable article of traffic, and hang in numerous 

 bunches at all the poulterers' stalls in the town 

 and market. The season is from October to 

 March. A net is provided about twenty-five 

 yards long, and from sixteen to eighteen feet 

 wide, with meshes of about an inch and a half in 

 diameter; this net is strengthened by eight lines 

 of a stronger cord, which cross it longitudinally at 

 regular intervals, and terminate at both ends in 

 large loops, which project a few inches beyond the 

 net itself. Through these loops a long and tough 

 pole is passed at either extremity, and the per- 

 formers, two of whom are necessary, each grasping 

 a pole with both hands, pull in opposite direc- 

 tions so as to stretch the net to its utmost ; then, 

 standing face to face, and suffering one end of 

 each of their poles to touch the ground, while the 

 other is inclined forwards at an angle of about 

 forty- five degrees, in the direction towards which 

 they are about to advance, they commence ope- 

 rations by sweeping the ground until a lark is 

 felt to flutter in the net, when it is immediately 



