FOB TAKING SMALL BIRDS WITH LIME-TWIGS. 105* 



is certain, if you take six dozen of birds, as well on the 

 boughs as on the ground, you will catch two-thirds on 

 the branches at Y. 



The time for this sport is from two in the morning 

 till half an hour before sunset, but the best is from 

 about ten to eleven, and from two to three ; and lastly, 

 an hour and half before sunset, when the birds approach 

 to the watering place in flocks, because the hour presses 

 them to retire, and go to roost. 



The best season for this diversion is when the weather 

 is hot : you must not follow it when it rains, nor even 

 when the morning dew falls, because the birds then 

 satisfy themselves with the water they find on the 

 leaves of trees : neither will it be to any purpose to 

 pursue the sport when the water, after great rains, lies 

 in places on the ground ; it must first dry up, or else 

 you will lose your labour. 



FOR TAKING SMALL BIRDS, THAT FREQUENT 

 HEDGES AND BUSHES, WITH LIME-TWIGS. 



THE great lime bush is best for this use, which you 

 must make after this manner : cut down the main branch 

 or bough of any bushy tree, whose branch and twigs are 

 long, thick, smooth, and straight, without either pricks 

 or knots ; the willow or birch is the best. When you 

 have trimmed it from all superfluity, making the twigs 



