520 



CLASS AVES. 



about a foot in height, and sometimes stretched to its entire 

 capacity of tension. Each compartment of this net is about 

 two feet square ; it is furnished at the top with rings of horn or 

 iron which shde easily. For hoisting and adjusting the net 

 there are two httle cords, called master-cords, because they 

 sustain the net by means of the rings. The net is usually set 

 in the middle of a hedge ; it is attached to two hght poles of 

 about nine or ten feet high, pointed and ironed at the thick 

 end, and to the top of which there is a pulley to hoist and 

 extend the net with greater facility : being once spread, it is 

 fixed, towards the ground below, by the packthreads, which 

 hang down, and which are almost two feet distant from each 

 other. The middle net is then slack, and gathered in a heap ; 

 but they draw it with a stick, through the squares of the other, 

 especially towards the centre, that the birds may be entangled 

 more easily : in this part a sort of purse is formed at each square 

 when the net is elevated. 



In Switzerland, they use, for thrushes, nets of this descrip- 

 tion, about fifty feet long by fifteen high. There are several 

 companies of fowlers, and each company has a dozen or fifteen 

 of these nets, which are laid with two poles crossed, and 

 planted perpendicularly in the ground, and by cordages to the 

 edge of some lofty wood. Then the fowlers beat the bushes 

 for about half a league, and force the thrushes to advance 

 gently into the nets. 



The net called rafle is used during the night. This net is 

 counter- meshed, and usually twelve or fifteen feet wide, by ten 

 high. The poles, which are attached on each side of it, must 

 be very light, and about twelve or thirteen feet long. There 

 is little difference, in general, between the formation of this 

 net and the spider-net. The best nights for operation are the 

 darkest; they are most advantageous when there is least 

 wind : fog is even very favourable. 



When the fowlers have discovered hedges which afford a 

 shelter to thrushes and blackbirds during the night, they are 



