04. BIRD LIFE IN ENGLAND. 



held by the fowler in his hand in a place of concealment, 

 and thus he is able to drop it down suddenly and intercept 

 any rash bird hurrying down the drive, the working of the 

 net being assisted by five pound stones tied to the corners. 

 The fowler having stationed himself in such a position as to 

 command a full view of the glade, beaters are employed to 

 flush the cocks out of their retreats amongst the dead fern, 

 and undergrowths, if they are not actually migrating at the 

 time, and just as the bird approaches the net it is suddenly 

 let down or drawn out. The instant the birds have struck 

 the net, the fowler lets go another cord looped to a stake 

 within reach of his arm, and the whole net, with the birds 

 entangled, then drops to the ground. In France they are 

 particularly skilful in this art of taking the "becasses," and 

 the glade nets they term " la pantiere." 



All birds when migrating fly through gaps in mountain 

 ranges or any alleys natural or artificial assisting their 

 progress. It is as if, conscious of a long journey before 

 them, they took advantage of every chance to avoid 

 digressions or deviations from the straight line. Thus, 

 in sweeping over Heligoland, woodcock often pass actually 

 through the streets of the town, and the worthy burghers, 

 taking advantage of this, hang out from window to 

 window at nightfall fine twine nets of small mesh. In 

 these next morning, if the towns folk are in luck, hang 

 an assortment of cock with, perhaps, a sandpiper or two ! 

 There are even stories current that men out after dark have 

 been knocked down and half killed by some blundering 

 mallard or errant pochard taking a short cut down the 

 local high-street in its autumn flight ; but the narrative wants 

 confirmation. " Now is the woodcock near the gin," says 

 Fabian, when Malvolio stoops to pick up the forged letter 

 of his mistress ; 110 doubt the bird has been harried and 

 hunted in one way or another from time immemorial. 

 Perhaps there is no method more eccentric of taking this 

 foolish bird than that French fashion, " a la folatrerie," we 



