PIGEONS. 191 



tourists. On the very ridge there is probably a little level 

 ground an inviting pass between rocky bush-covered crags 

 on either side. This little plateau is clear of underwood, 

 and three or four oak trees, left at convenient distances, dot 

 its surface. 



It serves as a tempting and well-used short cut for the 

 pigeons coming down the valley ; and among the branches of 

 the oaks through which they would naturally pass are planted 

 long, strong poles, supporting nets reaching to the ground, 

 and so arranged with "bridles" and pulleys that they can be 

 made to collapse instantly, one after the other, from neigh- 

 bouring hiding-places. Should any one think of trying this 

 arrangement in Canada or elsewhere, he may be able to do 

 so from the more detailed description of a writer in the 

 Field. He describes the ridge as " more or less level for 

 some two hundred and fifty yards, which space has been 

 cleared of all wood with the exception of six huge oaks 

 standing in line, but rises abruptly from the level to the 

 eastward. At the height of about forty feet in each oak was 

 fixed a spar, from which depended a rope, with the lower 

 end pegged to the ground, and carrying a wooden travelling 

 ring weighted with iron. Each spar also had a block and 

 halyards, the standing part of the latter being fast to the 

 wooden ring. The nets, one inch and three quarters mesh, 

 and about fifty feet broad, have their upper corners hooked 

 on to two of the wooden rings, and are thus hoisted into 

 position ; the lower ends are drawn backwards, i.e. south- 

 wards, for about thirty feet and pegged down ; the two 

 halyards of each net are hooked to a single trigger, and all is 

 then ready." 



On commanding points overlooking the glen that lies in 

 the purple shadow of daybreak are posted small boys, whose 

 duty it is to keep the pigeons to the valley, and warn the 

 netsmen of their approach by a little judicious shouting. 

 On the ridge the leader of the gang perches himself in a 

 tree a little in front of the nets. He is armed with some 



