THE WHINCHAT. 45 



danger ; but the first which ventures is soon followed 

 by the others, which be^in to quarrel if the place is 

 not large enough for all the bathers. In order to 

 attract them it is a good plan to have a tame bird 

 running and fluttering on the banks of the stream. 



Wagtail. If there is snow on the ground on their 

 return in March, it is only necessary to clear a place 

 (below the window will do), and scatter meal-worms 

 amongst limed twigs, or place these on stones or wood 

 where the birds assemble, or even fasten a meal-worm 

 to a limed twig, loosely stuck in the earth, and you 

 may soon catch a wagtail. 



Wheatear. Limed twigs must be placed on the 

 stones or stakes where these birds rest, or even on 

 sticks fixed in the ground for the purpose, and they 

 must be driven gently towards the snares. 



Whinchat. In spring, when some of these birds are 

 seen in a field or meadow, sticks, furnished with limed 

 twigs, should be stuck there, and the birds gently 

 driven to that side, to induce them to settle, which 

 they will soon do. In summer, the noose, spring-trap, 

 and limed twigs, must be employed in the following 

 manner : If the noose is used, a stake must be set 

 up, about three feet high, slit at the top to put in 

 crossways a stick three inches long, and the noose is 

 placed an inch and a half above, to be of the height of 

 the bird's breast when it is perched on the stick. 



If limed twigs are used, forked switches three feet 

 long should be employed ; the fork, four inches in 

 length, must be cohered with birdlime. Spring-traps 

 or gins must be suspended to small stakes or cabbage- 

 stalks. As soon as a sufficient number of these spring- 

 traps, snares, and limed twigs are prepared, they must 

 be carried to a cabbage-garden, when a number of 

 these wlmichats has been seen : there fix the stakes in 



