I30 RECREATIONS OF A NATURALIST 



a good height between large trees in open spaces 

 which have been cleared for the purpose in the 

 woods. 



At the height of about forty feet in each oak is 

 fixed a spar, from which depends a rope, with the 

 lower end pegged to the ground, and carrying a 

 wooden travelling ring weighted with iron. Each 

 spar has a block and halyards, the standing part of 

 the latter being fast to the wooden ring. The 

 nets, if-inch mesh, and about fifty feet broad, 

 have their upper corners hooked on to two of the 

 wooden rings, and are thus hoisted into position ; 

 the lower ends are drawn backwards {i.e.^ south- 

 wards) for about thirty feet, and pegged down ; the 

 two halyards of each net are hooked to a single 

 trigger, and all is then ready. 



Beaters with white flags are posted in trees for 

 nearly a mile along the line of route in which the 

 Pigeons are expected to arrive, and acting in 

 concert at a given signal, wave their flags and 

 shout, driving the birds down towards the nets, 

 which are then pulled over by the chief operator. 

 This, briefly described, is the plan pursued in the 

 Pyrenees. 



In the immense woods of fir and oak in " Les 

 Landes," stretching for miles between Bordeaux 

 and Bayonne, a very different though equally 

 effective method is employed. As this may be 

 new to many readers, I will endeavour to give 

 some account of it, based upon a description 

 furnished by an eye - witness, M. Louis 

 dAmbaloges. 



