THE CROSSBILL. 31 



Crosslill. "With the decoy birds nothing is easier 

 than to take the crossbills in the autumn and spring; 

 one large rod, covered with strong birdlime, is all that 

 is necessary. It must be put in a glade in the wood 

 which these birds frequent, with the decoy bird by 

 the side ; this, by its continual cry, will soon attract 

 them. InThuringia the people put nooses and spring 

 traps on the top of some of the highest pines, and 

 there hang the cage of the decoy bird ; as soon as one 

 crossbill has settled, the others follow ; so that as 

 many birds are taken as there are traps set, particu- 

 larly if the stick of the spring traps be placed so that 

 the bird must perch on it. 



Dipper. Each pair has a chosen spot, which it sel- 

 dom leaves ; and they are generally seen there cither 

 on a trough, a stone, dike, or a bush growing near; 

 by fixing close to these places limed twigs, to which 

 are fastened worms, which writhe about and attract 

 attention, it is very easy to catch them. 



DunnocJc, or Hedge Sparrow. This is very easy at 

 their return in the spring. As soon as they appear 

 in the hedges, where they soon discover themselves 

 by the cry " issri" a little place near, where the earth 

 is bare, must be found ; after having placed limed 

 twigs, and thrown among them earth or meal worms 

 for a bait, the dunnock is gently driven towards them 

 without alarming him ; as soon as he perceives the 

 worms he darts upon them and falls into the snare. 

 In the autumn they may be caught in the area and 

 with a noose ; in winter in the white-throat's trap ; 

 but they resort in the greatest numbers to the water 

 trap, not so much for the sake of bathing, as to seek 

 p or dead insects or decayed roots. 



Fluslier. As soon as this bird arrives in May, the 



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