360 ON BIRD-NETS. 



attached to pulleys, throws over the net, and the birds are jerked into the 

 water and covered by it." 



Here follows a description of the net. 



The above was written some time ago ; but the practice still continues, 

 and Thomas B. Pridmore states to me on this subject as foUow^s (February 

 24th, 1877): — 



"I have caught Plovers [i, e. Lapwings (Vanellus cristatusy] for fifty 

 years, my father did so for sixty years, at Whittlesea Wash. They are 

 caught by land, and also by water ; they are better taken by the latter. We 

 place the net on a hill surrounded wdth water about five inches deep, and 

 use stuffed decoy-birds, about ten in number, and one living bird. 



" We sometimes catch from three to four dozen at a pull. The net is 

 25 yards long and 8 yards deep, and the mesh 2| inches square. This is for 

 land-w^ork. For water it is 10 yards long and 4 yards deep. We place 

 ourselves one hundred and forty yards from the net, sheltered with reeds tied 

 on to rods to hide us. When the Plovers come down upon the hill we pull 

 the net over them ; it is set with ' spring shavers.' 



" London is the best market. They make from 4^. to I5s. per dozen, 

 according to the season ; last week they made 14^. We catch from sunrise 

 to sunset. 



'' There are now one hundred Plovers for every one there was fifty years 

 ago*. The hill is four feet wide, and from ten to fifteen yards long, one inch 

 above the water. 



" Plovers are now thus caught in Thorney fen, Wisbech fen, Bassen- 



^ It is witli pleasure that I am here able to record my opinion that the Lapwing is not only 

 holding its own among the birds of Great Britain^ but is becoming more numerous in some parts. 

 Thomas B. Pridmore, a good authority, alludes to this great increase since his father^s time in the 

 fen-district. On the south coast we find the same ; and from other quarters I receive confirmation 

 of this circumstance. 



I say with pleasure ; for the Scotch naturalist, Thomas Edward, in his life by Samuel Smiles, 



