BIRU-CATCHING. 157 



of the various kinds of animals and birds whose flesh 

 is proper for hawks to feed on, says (p. 137), "The 

 flesh of these flesh-crowes (i.e. carrion crows), and of the 

 wagtayles (or dishwasher, as we tearme them, in Latin 

 called Motacilld), and the cormorant, is of euil nourish- 

 ment and digestion." 



While on the subject of small birds in general, and 

 song birds in particular, it will be interesting to glance at 

 the methods which were formerly practised for catching 

 them. These methods were many and various in kind. 

 Springes, gins, bat-fowling, bird-lime, bird-bolts, and bird- 

 ing-pieces are all mentioned by Shakespeare. 



The "springe" and the "gin" we shall have occasion to 

 notice later in our remarks upon the Woodcock, for which 

 bird these snares were usually employed. The ancient 

 practice of " bat-fowling," or " bat-folding/' is noticed in 

 " The Tempest" Act ii. Sc. i : 



" He would so, and then go a bat-fowling" 



In Markham's " Hunger's Prevention," 1600, are some 

 curious directions on this subject, which afford a very good 

 idea of the way in which this sport was practised 

 formerly : 



" For the manner of bat-fowling, it may be used either 

 with nettes or without nettes. 



"If you vse it without nettes (which indeed is the most 

 common of the two), you shall then proceed in this manner. 



