32 BIRD-CATCHING. 



bushes on winch it most frequently perches must be 

 observed : these are very few, and on them the lime 

 twigs must be placed ; it is often entrapped within 

 a quarter of an hour. Success is more certain if a 

 beetle, maybug, or breeze-fly be fastened near the lime 

 twigs with horsehair, by two feet, so that it can move 

 its wings. As soon as the bird is stuck in the bird- 

 lime it is necessary when taking it to avoid its beak, as 

 it pecks very hard. 



Goldfinch. In spring these birds are taken on a 

 lure bush, with a decoy bird of their own species. 

 They will also enter the area or barn-floor trap, with 

 chaffinches, if bundles of thistles are placed there ; 

 but it is not without difficulty, for they are very 

 watchful to avoid nets and lime twigs. Tn the winter, 

 by building up bundles of thistles, and placing snares 

 and traps on them, several may be caught ; but in 

 autumn and spring lime twigs should be placed on 

 them in preference. It is a still better plan to place 

 bundles of thistles in a tree stuck about with lime 

 twigs. 



Green Bird. If the decoy bird be a good one, the 

 green bird may be easily caught in the area or barn- 

 floor trap, even in December. In the spring it may 

 be taken with birdlime on the lure bush, when a linnet 

 will do for the songstress. 



Hawfinch. The haste with which these birds come 

 on hearing the call makes it very easy to catch them 

 in the net, by throwing berries or hemp seed on the 

 trap. In autumn and winter they may be taken 

 by the noose, with service berries ; in spring they 

 may be caught by placing lime twigs on the nest. 



Jay. Should any one wish to catch these birds, he 

 must seek in autumn for- a lonely tree, about five or 

 six paces from the other trees of the wood, which the 



