CATCHING BIRDS. 35 



Wild blue pigeons are plentiful through- 

 out India and in the upper provinces they may 

 be met with in such very large flights as few 

 would believe without seeing. Green pigeons 

 are also common in India they never light on 

 the ground; are always in trees and most 

 commonly in the wild fig, which is their prin- 

 cipal food, where it is very difficult to discern 

 them,, their colour being so exactly like the 

 leaves. 



In the lower parts of Bengal wild ducks,, 

 widgeon, and teal, are often taken by means 

 of earthen pots; A number of these pots are 

 floated amongst vthem in the lakes where they 

 abound, to the sight of which they soon be- 

 come reconciled and approach them fearlessly. 

 A man then goes into the water up to his 

 chin with one of these pots over his head in the 

 centre of which, two small holes are made for 

 him to see through, and when he gets into the 

 midst of the birds, he pulls them by the legs 

 under water, fastening them to a girdle round 

 his waist. 



D2 



