Bians. 2:^1 



passage are always observed to fly against tlie tviiid ; henre there 

 is H great contention among the bird-catchers whicli shall gain 

 the wind; for examj)le, if it is westerly, the bird-catcher who 

 lays his nets to the east is sure of the most plentiful sport, if his 

 call-birds are good. For this purpose he generally carries five 

 or six linnets, two gold-finches, two-green finches, one wood- 

 lark, one red-poll, and perhaps a bull-finch, a yellow-hammer, a 

 tit-lark, and an aberdavine : these are placed at small distances 

 from the nets in little cages. He has besides what he calls his 

 flur-birds, which are placed upon a moveable perch, which the 

 bird-catcher can raise at pleasure by means of a string; and 

 these he always lifts gently up and down as the wild bird ap- 

 proaches. But this is not enough to allure tLv wild bird down ; 

 it must be called by one of the call-birds in the cages ; and these, 

 by being made to moult prematurely in a warm cage, call louder 

 and better than those that are wild and at freedom. There even 

 appears a malicious joy in these call-birds to bring the wild 

 ones into the same state of captivity, while at the same time 

 their call is louder, and their plumage brighter, than in a state 

 of nature. Nor is their sight or hearing less exquisite, far ex- 

 ceeding that of the bird-catcher ; for the instant the wild 

 birds are perceived, notice is given by one to the rest of the call- 

 birds, who all unite in the same tumultuous ecstacy of plea- 

 sure. The call-birds do not sing upon these occasions as a bird 

 does in a chamber, but incite the wild ones by short jerks, which, 

 when the birds are good, may be heard at a great distance. Tlie 

 allurement of this call is so great that the wild bird hearing it, 

 is stopped in its most rapid flight ; and, if not already acquaint- 

 ed with the nets, lights boldly within twenty yards perhaps ot 

 the bird-catcher, and on a spot which it would otherwise have 

 quite disregarded. This is the opportunity wished for, and the 

 bird-catcher pulling a string, the nets on each side rise in an in- 

 stant, and clap directly down on the poor little unsuspecting 

 visitant. Nay, it frequently happens, that if half a flock only 

 «re caught, the remaining half will immediately afterwards light 

 between the nets, and share the fate of their companions. Should 

 only one bird escape, this unhappy survivor will also venture into 

 danger till it is caught ; such a fascinating power have the call 

 birds. 



Indeed, it is not easy to account for the nature of this call, 



r3 



