THE SACRED IBIS. 3/3 



formed of an elastic stick, to which was fastened a horse- 

 hair noose, put through a hole in a peg, fastened into 

 the ground, to which a trigger was annexed ; and, in order 

 to induce the Woodcock to walk towards the noose, a 

 little fence was extended on each side by small sticks, set 

 up close enough to prevent the bird passing between: 

 these all met at the trap; so that, by this funnel-shaped 

 fence, the Woodcock in feeding is compelled to pass 

 through the narrow passage, with every chance of being 

 caught by the legs. The elastic stick, in flying up, of 

 course draws the noose quite tight, and effectually secures 

 the Woodcock; but common horse-hair nooses will often 

 answer the purpose, particularly if the little avenue fence 

 is placed, to lead the birds to the snare. We remember 

 seeing, in the south of France, a tolerably large fallow- 

 field, actually sown with horse-hair nooses, placed in 

 straight lines, for catching Larks and other small birds; 

 so closely were they set, that it was almost impossible 

 for any small bird to alight in the field, and run a few 

 feet, without being caught. The guiding avenue con- 

 sisted merely of two small twigs, curved outwardly on 

 each side ; this external curve acting as a sufficient check 

 to the bird's free passage, excepting along the line of 

 snares. The labour of the person who had given himself 

 the trouble of setting them, was, we understood, amply 

 repaid by the numbers taken by this simple process. 



We shall conclude what we have to say on the Wood- 

 cock, or, as it is scientifically termed, the Scolopax 

 genus, by a few remarks upon one species, which was 

 formerly an object of adoration amongst the ancient 

 Egyptians, during life; and, after death, was honoured 

 with funeral rites equal to those bestowed upon their 

 kings and princes, being entombed in sacred monuments, 

 and still found, as mummies, embalmed with precious 

 ointments and divers kinds of spices. It was to this 

 bird that St. Paul chiefly alludes, in Romans i, 23, when 

 he accuses the Gentiles of changing the glory of the un- 

 corruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man 



