THE B UTCHER BIRD. 29 



Butclier Bird. Although it flies very swiftly when 

 pursuing its prey, it may easily be taken if a nest of 

 young birds, crying from hunger, be suspended to 

 some lime twigs. In autumn and winter, it will 

 sometimes dart on birds in cages which are outside 

 the window. It may then be easily caught, if the cage 

 be put into a sort of box, having the lid so placed that 

 the bird by the least touch would cause it to fall 

 upon itself. These means must be employed by those 

 who wish to possess birds which they can let go and 

 come at will. 



Carrion Grow. The easiest and most usual method 

 is with paper cones, at the bottom of which is put a 

 bit of meat, and birdlime on the inner edges. It 

 may also be caught with lime twigs placed in the 

 yard, or before the house, on horse-dung and among 

 scattered grain. 



Chaffinch. "With good baits the chaffinch may easily 

 be drawn within the area or decoy from Michaelmas 

 to Martinmas, and in spring throughout March. 

 Those that remain the winter, or return early in the 

 year, may be taken in a net baited with oats. 



Bird-catchers use in spring lures and lime twigs 

 and the sport lasts as long as the time of flight, which 

 begins at daybreak and ends at nine o'clock. These 

 birds employ the rest n f the day in seeking food in 

 the fields, in resting, and singing. In the same man- 

 ner are taken linnets, goldfinches, siskins, yellowham- 

 mers, and bullfinches. 



Some make use of the excessive jealousy of the 

 males to procure those whose song is very superior. 

 As soon as a bird-catcher who likes this way discovers 

 a fine songster wild, he immediately seeks another 

 male that is in the habit of often repeating its natural 

 cry, fink, Jink, ties his wings, and fastens to his tail a 



