RUFF. 649 



young birds are on the wing; these are infinitely more 

 delicate for the table, more readily submit to confinement, 

 and are less inclined to fight. If this plan was generally 

 enforced by the proprietors of fen-land, or made a bye-law 

 amongst themselves, the breed would not be so reduced ; 

 but there are still fowlers who make two seasons, and by 

 catching the old birds in the spring, especially the females, 

 verify the fable of the goose and the golden eggs : the de- 

 struction of every female in the breeding season is the pro- 

 bable loss of four young." 



" The manner of taking these birds is somewhat different 

 in the two seasons : in the spring the Ruffs hill, as it is 

 termed, that is, they assemble upon a rising spot of ground, 

 contiguous to where the Beeves propose to deposit their 

 eggs ; there they take their stand, at a small distance from 

 each other, and contend for the females, the nature of 

 polygamous birds. This hill, or place of resort for love 

 and battle, is sought for by the fowler, who from habit 

 discovers it by the birds having trodden the turf somewhat 

 bare, though not in a circle as usually described. When a 

 hill has been discovered, the fowler repairs to the spot 

 before the break of day, spreads his net, places his decoy 

 birds, and takes his stand at the distance of about one 

 hundred and forty yards, or more, according to the shyness 

 of the birds. The net is what is termed a single clap-net, 

 about seventeen feet long and six feet wide, with a pole at 

 each end ; this, by means of uprights fixed in the ground, 

 and each furnished with a pulley, is easily pulled over the 

 birds within reach, and rarely fails taking all within its 

 grasp ; but in order to give the pull the greatest velocity, 

 the net, if circumstances will permit, is so placed as to 

 fold over with the wind : however, there are some fowlers 

 who prefer pulling it against the wind for Plovers. As the 



