THE FLIGHT-POND. 85 



of grass plat or tolerably level surface of sixty yards' frontage to the 

 water, by thirty yards' breadth of back-ground. This is termed the 

 dun-bird yard ; beyond the boundaries of which, the back-ground 

 may be planted with trees and copse, so as to give the whole place a 

 quiet appearance. 



It is usual to throw up an embankment a few feet above the 

 level of the water at each frontage, whereby a greater elevation is 

 given to the posts and poles ; which in large ponds may be necessary, 

 in order that the birds may not have too great an extent of space, or 

 be enabled to obtain so strong a power of flight as to top the net. 

 The embankment also answers admirably as a screen to the fowler 

 and his preliminary operations ; and wherever requisite, reed-screens 

 must be placed, that no glimpse of the fowler or his movements may 

 be had by the birds upon the pond. 



The arrangement of the dun-bird pond under explanation would 

 give four frontages; consequently four distinct dun-bird yards, and 

 four nets, requiring four sets of posts and poles. It will be sufficient 

 for our purpose to explain the method of planting the posts and ar- 

 ranging the poles for one of the yards, all the others being planned 

 in precisely similar manner. 



The main posts, or those to which the but-end of each pole is 

 attached, are twin-posts, and must be of stout and solid substance, 

 firmly fixed in the ground, and capable of bearing the great strain 

 which will be put upon them. They must be twelve feet in height, 

 though planted on the top of the embankment, about ten yards from 

 the brink of the water, and about fifty yards apart, according to the 

 space of frontage and length of net. Each of the twin-posts must 

 also be provided with a cross-bar called the "trammel-bar," by which 

 the poles are kept in upright position after they have risen perpen- 

 dicularly. In the back-ground, at the opposite corners of the dun- 

 bird yard, are placed two fulcrum-posts of less substance, about 

 fifty feet from the twin-posts, and parallel with them ; these must be 

 fifteen feet in height, and made with a crutch at top, wherein to re- 

 ceive the upper end of the poles when fastened down ready for being 

 used. Central in distance between these and the twin-posts are 

 two other fulcrum -posts, one to each pole, which are merely to ease 

 the others, and receive a share of the weight of the poles when rest- 

 ing upon them ; they are also provided with a short piece of line and 

 two iron staples, or a cleet, for the purpose of tying down the poles, 

 so as to prevent their flying up when not in use. 



