346 THE WILD-FOWLER. 



at the base of the cliff: it enables his comrades to hold him steadily, and 

 assist him up the rocks to the extent of the length of the bird-pole ; 

 or, if the cliff is very perpendicular, the flat head of the pole (which 

 is about six inches in diameter) is applied to the seat of honour 

 for the same purpose. In this manner the fowler is enabled to 

 climb to some helde or projection where he can obtain a footing 1 ; then 

 those below help another up to the same place : and when both have 

 climbed to the helde, bird-poles are handed to them. The two adven- 

 turers are then linked to each other by means of the rock-line, one 

 end of which is secured to the waist of one, and the other end to that 

 of his companion. One of them then climbs as high as he can ; 

 and where the climbing is difficult, the other, by applying his bird- 

 pole in the manner before mentioned, pushes his fellow-mate up 

 to a standing place. The uppermost of the two then draws up his 

 comrade with the rock-line ; and so they get to apparently inaccessible 

 holes and clefts in the rocks, where the birds roost or build. 



Whilst one of the fowlers is climbing, the other seeks a firm stand- 

 ing, and has to be prepared for the most sudden emergency, so as to 

 be able to hold his comrade fast, in case he slips or falls. 



Accidents often happen ; for if the one whose duty it is to be 

 watchful be not standing firmly, or is not strong* enough to support 

 the other when he slips, they are both precipitated to the bottom, 

 from whatever height : one dragging the other after him to certain 

 death ; both are inevitably killed in the fall, by being dashed to 

 pieces against the rocks, or drowned in the waters beneath them ; and 

 in this frightful manner several bird-men perish every year. 



" ' Stay, ye fools !' he cried ; ' ye madmen, stay ! 

 Nor further prosecute your vent'rous way.' " 



On arriving at the bird-roosts in the rocks about twilight, or later, 

 the fowl are sometimes found very tame, and are easily taken with 

 the hand ; but when wild, the fowler takes a small, light net from 

 his pocket (with one or two of which he is always provided), and 

 throws it over the holes and clefts in the rocks, and sometimes over 

 the birds that may be hovering within reach of his arms. The bird- 

 poles are sometimes used with the nets appended to them, so as to 

 entangle any bird that ventures within reach, or that the fowler may 

 chance by his skill to ensnare in that manner. If he contrives to 

 throw the net so as to touch either the head, feet, or tips of the wings 

 of any bird, it generally becomes his captive. 



