ROMEOSTIA. 



149 



way ; it is as follows : Many of the cows and beasts 

 or oxen in the Campagna have large bells round their 

 necks, made of tin or some such metal, w T hich produce 

 a dull sound like turn turn, turn turn, as they walk 

 along. The peasants having found out where a flight 

 of woodcocks have arrived, are soon after them, and 

 having strapped one of these bells round their waists, 

 and a lantern above it, with a sort of landing-net in 

 their hands, they walk quietly through the underwood, 

 which is generally of cork trees or ilex. As they 

 walk along, turn turn, turn turn, goes the bell, the 

 light dazzles the birds, and they crouch down, when 

 over them goes the landing-net in a twinkling, 

 and they are put into a bag which they carry 

 fastened round them. 



Having heard one day that a lot of woodcocks had 

 arrived, I and two or three friends sallied forth to a 

 cork wood about six miles from Rome to welcome 

 them. We beat the wood for a long time, and only 

 killed two or three, and hardly found any. 



On our return to a small road-side sort of inn, 

 where we had left our conveyance, a man came up 

 and said, " Ah ! gentlemen, you are too late, you 

 should have been here yesterday ; / paysani colli 

 lanterni e campanelli" The peasants with their 



