1 84 THE FOWLER IN IRELAND. 



is very clever, or my description is lucid, for he has 

 made a net and all appliances, and caught many 

 hundred Plover at this his first attempt, to the envy 

 and astonishment of his fellows, though he never 

 witnessed the sport before in his life. 



The average take in January (which is the best 

 month) would, if the weather were mild, be some 

 thirty to forty dozen birds per week to each net. 

 The dealers give 8d. to lod. apiece for Golden 

 Plover, and 4d. to 6d. apiece for Green. This total 

 is now and then far exceeded in an open winter 

 should the " stands " be numerous. 



Plover-catchers have a mutual understanding for 

 their general benefit. Each takes a large extent of 

 country, and one rarely encroaches without leave on 

 the other's territory. 



Most netters keep a donkey-cart to transport 

 their gear, and to carry the spoil home or to 

 market, besides paying a couple of active assistants 

 to scour the district on every side to look for 

 chances of sport. Green Plover are the usual 

 victims, Golden less commonly so ; but the latter 

 are taken in the greatest numbers at a haul. 

 Curlews are also taken. This wary bird a source 

 of trouble to the most cunning shooter is, strange 

 to say, the easiest of all to take in a net. As Teal 

 are to the decoyman, so are Curlew to the fowler in 

 their innocence of his snare. Geese are captured by 

 means of a heavier net, and I have known twenty- 

 five Bean Geese to be meshed together, lured to 

 destruction by one of their kind previously caught 

 in a pitfall or trap. Even rabbits may be taken 

 of a fine evening, and green food used as a bait. 



