70 AN EAST COAST NATURALIST 



with the favourite resorts of these birds, fixed a 

 number of small steelfalls thereabouts, with the 

 result that a considerable capture was made. A 

 row of these broken-legged Plovers attracted my 

 attention as they hung on Durrant's stall, where I 

 was informed of the trick successfully carried out by 

 the urchins. 



Prior to the 'sixties, when Ringed Plovers were 

 more abundant on the then less-frequented north 

 beach, bird-limed sticks were placed around a nest in 

 a triangular fashion ; to these the old birds became 

 easily fastened, and were at once secured. 

 ? At that period, during long droughts, the Rooks 

 used to frequent the allotments, which were never 

 without puddles, or " pulk-holes." Pieces of brown 

 paper were made into cones, like sugar bags, and 

 holes being made in the turf, these bags were 

 inserted. The inside having been smeared with 

 bird-lime, and a few grains of corn dropped in, 

 the trapper hid himself. The hungry Rooks, glad 

 enough to find something that promised a whole- 

 some meal, eagerly dipped into the cones to get at 

 the corn, when an attempted withdrawal of the 

 beak brought the paper hood up with it. The 

 terrified birds would fly straight into the air, but 



