ON THE SMALL BIRDS OF FLIGHT. 3^1 



bird-catchers, on a spot which otherwise it 

 would not have taken the least notice of. Nay, 

 it frequently happens, that if half a flock only 

 are caught, the remaining half will immediately 

 afterwards light in the nets, and share the same 

 fate ; and should only one bird escape, that bird 

 Avill suffer itself to be pulled at till it is caught, 

 such a fascinating power have the call-birds. 



While we are on this subject of the jerking 

 of birds, we cannot omit mentioning, that the 

 bird-catchers frequently lay considerable wagers 

 whose call-bird co-n Jerk the longest, as that de- 

 termines the superiority. They place them op- 

 posite to each other, by an inch of candle, and 

 the bird who Jei^ks the oftenest, before the can- 

 dle is burnt out, wins the wager. We have 

 been informed, that there have been instances 

 of a bird's giving a hundred and seventy jer^^ 

 in a quarter of an hour ; and we have known a 

 linnet, in such a trial, persevere in its emula- 

 tion till it swooned from the perch : thus, as 

 Pliny says of the nightingale, victa morte Jinit 

 S(2pe vitam, spiritu prius deficiente qudm cantu.^ 



It may be here observed, that birds when 

 near each other, and in sight, seldom JerA: or 

 sing. They either fight, or use short and wheed- 



* Lib. X. c. 29. 

 VOL. ir. Y 



