FOR NORTHERN INDIA 101 



parallel to one another, about a yard apart. 

 The inner side of each net is securely pegged 

 to the ground. By an ingenious^ arrangement 

 of sticks and ropes a ma#/ 'taking, ^oyer. .at i a j 

 distance of twenty or thirty' , jar dfc', 'by' j givirTg 

 a sharp pull at a pliable cane, can cause the 

 outer parts of each net to spring up and meet 

 to form an enclosure which is, in shape, not 

 unlike a sleeping-pal tent. When the nets 

 have been set in a pond near the trees where 

 the cattle-egrets roost at night and rest in the 

 day-time, two or three decoy birds captured 

 egrets with their eyes sewn up to prevent 

 them struggling or trying to fly away are 

 tethered in the space between the two nets ; 

 these last, being laid flat under muddy water, 

 are invisible. Sooner or later an egret in one 

 of the trees near by, seeing some of its kind 

 standing peacefully in the water, alights near 

 them. Almost before it has touched the ground 

 the cane is pulled and the egret finds itself a 

 prisoner. One of the bird-catchers immedi- 

 ately runs to the net, secures the victim, opens 

 out its wings, and, holding each of these 

 between the big and the second toe, pulls out 

 the nuchal plumes. This operation lasts about 

 five seconds. The bird is then set at liberty, 



