194 THE FOWLER IN IRELAND. 



The rope, of J-inch diameter (not thicker than a 

 lead pencil), should be of white manilla : tarred rope 

 has not sufficient spring in it. 



The poles are made of the best ash ; but yellow 

 pine answers admirably, being light and elastic, and 

 if it stands the strain at first, it will last a season. 



Their length should be 8 feet and 7 feet 9 inches ; 

 the shorter pole nearest A, the longer one next B. 

 Their diameter at centre should be \\ inch ; if of 

 pine, i \ inch, and tapered to -|ths at each end. 



The net is designed to take all birds that COITK 

 within a space 16 yards long by 6^- yards broad, 

 and, for some portion of its sweep, 8 feet high. 



As an all-important fact, it should be borne in 

 mind, that when there is little or no moon, at night, 

 or if the moon be obscured, and it is dark in con- 

 sequence, the Plover must be sought in totally dif- 

 ferent localities to those in which they would be 

 found were the nights clear. On days following 

 dark nights, Plover will be found feeding on the 

 ploughs, grain fields, and wet meadows ; the reason 

 being, that they were unable to find their food the 

 preceding night. On days following bright nights, 

 Plover will be seen resting motionless on the grass 

 fields and dry lands, or at intervals hovering lazily 

 over them. They are not then seeking food, which 

 they were able to find overnight. They sit best, 

 that is to say, closer together, on rough, coarse, short 

 grass than they ever do on smooth, and always 

 prefer slightly rising ground, where they collect 

 much closer than they do on a level. For this 

 reason the net should be invariably set on a little 

 eminence if possible. A small knoll in the centre 



