SAXICOLA. CENANTHE. 399 



Last year a Stoat went round the coops of my friend, just as a man 

 would, and was too cunning to let the shepherd's dog come near him. 



The shepherd gets 2^. per dozen, and says, "You must not allow earth 

 to fall into your coops ;'' and Wheatears dislike long grass. A white chalk- 

 flint is put near, which attracts them, as chalk does. They like a dip in a 

 road, and will play along it. 



The birds decrease in numbers. He has taken twelve dozen in one 

 day ; formerly they would catch twenty or thirty dozen. Sometimes, but 

 very seldom, two are secured in one coop. Hawks now and then take the 

 poor things clean out of the traps ; and Jackdaws will attack them. A steady 

 breeze and cloudy sky are the best for the work. He once took eleven 

 Wheatears out of twelve chances ; and the victim is usually alive when 

 found, caught by the neck. When it is very hot, '' the birds are gentle," 

 «. e, let you get near them. 



Willughby would seem to have started the nebular theory. In his 

 wake followed Albin, Latham, Pennant, Yarrell, and others. 



Willughby says : — " The birds, being naturally very timorous, if a Hawk 

 happen to appear, or but a cloud pass over and intercept the sun-beams, 

 hastily run to hide themselves in the holes under the turves, and so are 

 caught by the neck in the snares.'' 



This, he states, happens on the " downs of Sussex, which are a ridge of 

 mountains running all along by the sea-coast for thirty or forty miles in 

 length." 



As I have been a resident under the said " mountains " for some five- 

 and-twenty years, I must protest, as good old Waterton would say, in the 

 name of all that is fur or feather, against the idea that the clouds frighten 

 either beast or bird. If they did, the poor animals would indeed " dwell in 

 the midst of alarms," as Selkirk wished to do. 



VOL. II. 3 H 



