THE YARE VALLEY 223 



which are fairly moist. Here they remain until the autumn. 

 During October and November they are joined by migratory 

 birds from other countries. The first frost drives them to the 

 coast, when they depart almost immediately for the south. 

 During August and September they afford good sport to 

 flight shooters, who are always out after them with more or 

 less success. 



When October cornes they collect in larger flocks and 

 great numbers are sometimes taken by netting. The most 

 favourite place for netting is a small island in the midst 

 of a flooded marsh. The meshes of the nets are coloured 

 the same as their probable surroundings, and the pattern used 

 is the ordinary clap-net known to all bird-catchers with the 

 exception that one net only is used instead of two. Round 

 the edge of the net stuffed peewits are set, and near the end 

 nearest the fowler one or more live peewits are anchored 

 down upon a small board which, working on a pivot sunk 

 into the ground, can be raised at the will of the string-puller 

 some little height into the air. The decoy-birds are all placed 

 head to wind and the net is pegged down accordingly, so that 

 when it is pulled over it will catch the birds as they are 

 settling amongst the decoys. The poles of the net are about 

 ten feet long, and the art of making a big haul is to allow the 

 straggling part of the flock of birds to pass and not to pull 

 the net over until the thickest part of the flock can be reached. 



Green plover are killed from the artificial stalking-horse 

 or by using a live horse or pony which will stand fire, but 

 when they have been shot at once or twice in this manner the 

 game is played out. 



Another plan is to drive a horse and cart into the field 

 where they are, as sometimes one can get within range by 

 driving or riding round them, gradually decreasing the distance 

 until sufficiently near to shoot. 



All plover are easily called. Not only do they reply to 

 their particular whistle, but they also are attracted by it in 

 such a manner that an easy shot is often offered and the birds 

 secured. 



