132 RECREATIONS OF A NATURALIST 



The lines from all the decoys radiate towards the 

 hut, where the pigeon-catcher sits, like a spider in 

 his web, to work them one by one, or several at a 

 time, as he may think fit. In short, the first stage 

 of the business is then accomplished. 



Let us suppose that the pigeon-catcher has just 

 seen a flock of Pigeons coming, and has got back to 

 his hut without being seen by them. He at once 

 sets the decoys in motion, and the wild birds, de- 

 scending to the lure, cover the' trees around him. 

 The next thing to be done is to make them descend 

 to the ground at a spot prepared for them, where 

 they can be covered by a net. To this end there is 

 in the hut, tethered by the legs to a cross perch 

 with a long handle, another decoy Pigeon, called le 

 Semee. The part it plays is to be lifted up and 

 down by the experienced hand of the pigeon- 

 catcher, which results in the production of a sound 

 like that made by a Pigeon when fluttering to the 

 ground, and suggests to the new arrivals that they 

 may descend without fear. 



In order to keep them as quiet as possible (for 

 good decoys should not move unless made to do so), 

 all these tame birds are blindfolded, as hawks used 

 to be formerly by a process called "seeling," which 

 consists in tying up the eyelids with thread. Nor 

 is this all. In a corner of the hut is a little palisade 

 made of fir sticks fixed in the ground, which incloses 

 several tame Pigeons called Poulets, since their office 

 is to call the wild birds as a hen does her chickens. 

 These, more fortunate than the other decoys, are 

 neither blindfolded nor are their movements fettered. 



