THE GULL. 441 



then in number scarce above six, which come, as it were, 

 as harbingers to the rest, to see whether the hafts or 

 islands in the pooles (upon which they build their 

 neasts) be prepared for them ; but these never so much 

 as lighten, but fly over the poole, scarce staying an hour. 

 About the sixth of March following, there comes a pretty 

 considerable flight, of a hundred or more, and then they 

 alight on the hafts, and stay all day, but are gone again 

 at night. About our Lady-day, or sooner in a forward 

 spring, they come to stay for good, otherwise not till 

 the beginning of April, when they build their nests, 

 which they make not of stickes, but heath and rushes,, 

 making them but shallow, and laying generally but four 

 eggs, three and five more rarely, which are about the 

 bignes of a small Hen egg. The hafts or islands are 

 prepared for them between Michaelmas and Christmas, 

 by cutting down the reeds and rushes, and putting them 

 aside in the nookes and corners of the hafts, and in the 

 valleys to make them level; for should they be per- 

 mitted to rot on the islands, the Pewits would not endure 

 them. 



" After three weeks' sitting, the young ones are hatcht, 

 and about a month after are almost ready to flye, which 

 usually happens on the third of June, when the pro- 

 prietor of the poole orders them to be driven and catch'cl, 

 the gentry comeing in from all parts to see the sport; the 

 manner thus. They pitch a rabbit-net on the banko 

 side, in the most convenient place over against the hafts, 

 the net in the middle being about ten yards from the 

 side, but close at the ends in the manner of a bow; then 

 six or seven men wade into the poole beyond the Pewits, 

 over against the net, with long staves, and drive them 

 from the hafts; whence they all swim to the bank side, 

 and landing, run like Lapwings into the net, where 

 people standing ready, take them up, and put them 

 into two penns made within the bow of the net, which 

 are built round, about three yards diameter, and a 

 yard high or somewhat better, with small stakes, 



