FRENCH HUT-SHOOTING. 383 



separated, will, in general, be calling to each other ; 

 and if so, there will seldom pass a wild one, but will 

 come and drop with them. 



The chief point, however, to be attended to in 

 England, is to get, if possible, some young wild-ducks 

 bred up, and pinioned. Or, by way of a makeshift, 

 to select tame birds which are the most clamorous, 

 even if their colour should not be like the wild ones. 

 But in France you have seldom any trouble to do 

 this, as the ducks used in that country are partly of 

 the wild breed ; and three French ducks, like three 

 Frenchmen, will make about as much noise as a 

 dozen English. 



The Italians, in order to make their call birds 

 noisy, for a " roccalo," burn out their eyes with a hot 

 needle, a practice at which I am sure my English 

 readers would shudder; though the translation of 

 what they say in Italy is, that " these are the happiest 

 birds in the world ; always singing." (It may be ne- 

 cessary to explain, that a roccalo is a plantation, and a 

 large silk net, into which various small birds are driven, 

 as soon as they have collected, by a Signior, who is con- 

 cealed above the trees, in a highly elevated box, similar 

 to a small pigeon-house. Out of this he hurls down a 

 large stick upon the birds ; and they, flying down, as 

 if to avoid a hawk, are all made prisoners in the net 

 which is placed behind the trees.) But, to return to 

 the huts of Peronne : they are very superior to the 

 common ones. The way to make them is this : Cut 

 down a large square in the reeds, about eight feet by 



