THE SPARROW KIND. 24/7 



the wild bird approaches. But this is not enough 

 to allure the wild bird down : it must be called 

 by one of the call-birds in the cages ; and these, 

 by being made to moult prematurely in a warm 

 cage, call louder and better than those that are 

 wild and at freedom. There even appears a ma- 

 licious joy in these call-birds to bring the wild 

 ones into the same state of captivity, while at the 

 same time their call is louder and their plumage 

 brighter than in a state of nature. Nor is their 

 sight or hearing less exquisite, far exceeding that 

 of the bird-catcher ; for the instant the wild birds 

 are perceived, notice is given by one to the rest 

 of the call-birds, who all unite in the same tumul- 

 tuous ecstasy of pleasure. The call-birds do not 

 sing upon those occasions as a bird does in a 

 chamber, but incite the wild ones by short jerks, 

 which, when the birds are good, may be heard 

 at a great distance. The allurement of this call 

 is so great, that the wild bird hearing it is stop- 

 ped in its most rapid flight ; and, if not already 

 acquainted with the nets, lights boldly within 

 twenty yards perhaps of the bird-catcher, and on 

 a spot which it would otherwise have quite dis- 

 regarded. This is the opportunity wished for, 

 and the bird-catcher pulling a string, the nets on 

 each side rise in an instant, and clap directly 

 down on the poor little unsuspecting visitant. 

 Nay, it frequently happens that if half a flock 

 only are caught, the remaining half will imme- 

 diately afterwards light between the nets, and 

 share the fate of their companions. Should only 

 one bird escape, this unhappy survivor will also 



