98 TAXIDERMY AND MODELLING 



as redshanks and other fen- or shore-birds can be successfully 

 "called" to the gun. The next simplest is assisting the 

 natural whistle by an artificial one. 



This calling of birds is capable of extension to many 

 species, and there are whistles made which imitate their call 

 and decoy them to the gun. Such are curlew- and plover- 

 whistles, one variety of which will call both birds by modulating 

 the tones in stopping or leaving open the hole in the bell- 

 shaped part, and this remark applies also to the wood-pigeon- 

 call — a large pear-shaped whistle, by which a wonderfully good 

 imitation of the cuckoo's note is also obtained. The duck-call 

 — a trumpet-shaped instrument — may also be modified to the 

 exasperating cry of the landrail. 



In Italy and Greece, where such birds as thrushes are not 

 despised for the table, great quantities are shot by the fowler 

 taking up his position in the groves during the time of the 

 autumnal migration, and hiding himself the while he skilfully 

 imitates the full song of the thrush, which the incoming birds 

 hear, and mistake for that of one which has arrived [in advance 

 of the main body. Usually made of silver, these whistles are 

 formed of a concave and a convex disk of metal soldered at 

 the edges, and with a hole in the centre. It is quite astonishing 

 what a perfect imitation it is in the mouth of an expert, who 

 alternately inspires and expires the breath, whilst modulat- 

 ing the notes. So with the lark-whistle and others, whilst 

 the so-called " Punch-call " — two pieces of tin tied together, 

 with tape between them — is an absurdly good call for the 

 wryneck. 



Steel traps, barbarous enough for mammals, are worse for 

 birds, which they usually catch by the legs, and these, if not 

 broken at once, subsequently break by the flutterings of the 

 poor things. No one but a savage should use them. 



Dead-falls are of no use for collecting birds, as a flattened- 



