ANCIENT METHODS OF CAPTURING WILD-FOWL. 23 



other ingyns and polycies, yerely taken greate nomber of the same 

 fowle, in such wyse that the brode of wyldefoulle is almoste thereby 

 wasted and consumed; and dayly is lyke more and more to wast and 

 consume yf remedy be not therefore pvyded." 



The statute also provides against taking wild-fowl by such means, 

 between the " last day of Maye and the last day of August' ' in any 

 year ; thereby putting a summary stop to such destructive pro- 

 ceedings. 



A statute was also passed in Scotland in the reign of James II., 

 A.D. 1457, prohibiting the destruction of wild-fowl during the moult- 

 ing season.* Blome also speaks of this system of fowling, and states 

 that numbers of wild-fowl were easily taken in the fens, in moulting 

 time, with the assistance of a water-spaniel, by simply driving them 

 into narrow creeks where tunnel-nets were previously fixed. 



Notwithstanding the statute of 25 Henry VIII., it appears that 

 in subsequent reigns it was often infringed ; and though Markham, 

 who wrote in 1621 and 1655 upon the art of fowling, makes but cur- 

 sory mention of taking wild-fowl by driving, Willughby, who wrote 

 in 1678, gives a full description of it. The omission by Markham 

 was probably intentional, because of the illegality of the proceeding 

 after the statute of Henry VIII., above cited. 



In reference to the wholesale capture of wild-fowl which prevailed 

 previous to the passing of the statute alluded to, it is worthy of 

 remark, that many fens and other strongholds of wild-fowl were then 

 in their wild and natural state ; no draining pipe had then found its 

 way beneath the surface, but the whole country of the fens afforded 

 every requisite protection, and inviting means for the breeding and 

 rearing of water-fowl. No wonder, then, that their numbers should 

 have been so great, that as many as three and four thousand should 

 have been taken at a driving ; and this, it must be remembered, in 

 the summer season. f 



* " Item anents the keping of birds and wylde fowlys that ganis to eit for the 

 sustentacione of man as pertriks pluvors wilde duks and sik lik fowlys it is ordanyt 

 that na man distroy thar nests nor thar eggs nor zit sla wilde fowlys in mooting 

 tyme quhile thai may not fle." 



f 1 Daniel, in his " Rural Sports," also mentions a record of this driving of the 

 old birds, at Spalding, when unable to fly, and states "That at the duking, on Thurs- 

 day last, were taken up one hundred and seventy-four dozen of mallards or drakes, 

 moulting ; and on Monday forty-six dozen and a-half : in all two thousand six hun- 

 dred and forty-six mallards." 



In " Fuller's Worthies of England," by Nuttall, it is also stated, in allusion to the 

 great abundance of wild-fowl taken by the fowlers in this country " In the month 

 of August three thousand mallards, with birds of that kind, have been caught at one 

 draught, so large and strong their nets," vol. ii. p. 263. 



