280 WITH NATURE AND A CAMERA. 



nets. These consisted of a Goldfinch, Chaffinch, 

 Greenfinch and Linnet, and were tethered to their 

 movable perches by means of a light brace passed 

 round the body before and behind the wings, and 

 having a swivel which prevented the little captives 

 from twisting the string between them and their 

 playsticks and thus becoming entangled. The 

 small picture shows a Goldfinch on the raised play- 

 stick to which it was attached. 

 Food and water are placed 



PLAYSTICK AND LURE BIRO. 



within reach of the "Jackey" or " play-birds," so 

 that by addressing themselves to the meal provided 

 they may induce others to alight and join them in 

 the feast. 



Often the little prisoners observe flocks of their 

 own species passing overhead, and begin to attract 

 them before the fowler himself has become aware 

 of their presence. We saw lots of birds, however, 

 that would not be lured either by the blandishments 

 of the decoys or their well-imitated call-notes from 

 the body of the little tin drum in the mouth of 

 the nets-man. They had seen too many of their 

 friends taken by the deception, and were wise in 

 their generation. 



When birds are heard or seen approaching the 



