582 



FRINGILLID^E. 



clap-net, a particular sort of ground-net in constant use 

 among London bird-catchers. It consists of two equal 

 parts, or sides, each about twelve yards long, by two yards 

 and a half wide, and these two sides are by an ingenious 

 contrivance pulled over together towards each other, so as 

 to cover the oblong space between their points of motion, 

 which are in parallel lines nearly as far apart as the width 

 of both halves of the net. Various call -birds, either fixed 

 by braces, or confined in small cages, are placed about the 

 net to decoy the wild birds down that come within sight 

 or healing. One bird-catcher is represented in the act of 

 pulling the two halves of the net over to enclose and entrap 

 the birds between them ; the figure in the foreground, with 

 his nets packed at his back, exhibits the convenient porta- 

 bility of the materials. 



