192 THE FOWLER IN IRELAND. 



by seeking a field frequented by cattle. How, may 

 be better guessed than described. After taking 

 birds, do not fail to gather up any feathers that may 

 lie about ere resetting, or the next comers, though 

 they approach the decoys innocently, will, on seeing 

 such an equivocal circumstance, sheer off out of 

 reach. To take the captives out, do not lift the net, 

 but fold the wings of each bird, and so pull them 

 through the meshes head first one by one. When 

 pulling, that is freeing, the net from C, it cannot 

 be done too smartly ; this the fowler will not 

 achieve properly without something to put his 

 feet against to get a good purchase. Sitting on 

 level ground, he can stamp two holes to put his 

 heels in ; he should even hang hard on to the rope 

 though he sees the net is fallen all right ; this will 

 bring the net well up between A and B. If all 

 works smoothly the loop (H) will free itself from B, 

 and cause the net to come over better than it other- 

 wise would do. 



If the rope is made in pieces, and joined as 

 wanted, it is more handy than when in one length. 



The point (C) can of course as easily be put in 

 the opposite direction, should the wind and ground 

 necessitate it. The net may be made of hemp, 

 about one-half as thick as the lead of an ordinary 

 pencil, and no stouter than a trout-fly line. The 

 meshes are 2f inches square. The dimensions of 

 the net, when stretched out flat and level, are given 

 in fig. 9. 



To make the net, cast on to a loop about one 

 hundred and sixty meshes of three inches square (to 

 allow for shrinking). Then work on in rows until 



