METHOD FOR TAKING SMALL BIRDS. 99 



with some corn underneath, and a little about it. As 

 soon as the birds see the earth free from snow, and 

 covered with straw, they will fly thither ; and when 

 they have eaten up the corn about the table, they will 

 also proceed to feed upon that under it. You must 

 from time to time peep through some hole in the door, 

 or leave it a little open, and when you find the birds 

 have got under the machine, pull the cord M, which 

 .will pluck out the stick I, and the table will fall upon 

 them, which you must presently seize, and set your 

 machine as before. If the table is not heavy enough of 

 itself to fall readily, lay something upon it to increase 

 its weight, provided it be not the means of frightening 

 the birds. 



Small birds may be taken in the night-time with 

 nets and sieves : they retire in the winter time into cop- 

 pices, hedges, and bushes, to shelter themselves from the 

 severe cold and winds, which incommode them. The 

 net made use of for this purpose is that which the French 

 call carralet, as under : 



Take two poles, let them be straight and light, of 

 the length of ten or twelve feet, that the net may be 



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