134 RECREATIONS OF A NATURALIST 



descend to the ground ; the man noiselessly seizes 

 with both hands the strong wire with its wooden 

 handle, which works the net, and, with a strong pull, 

 draws it quickly towards him. Like lightning the 

 net is unfolded, and the two wings of it, springing 

 towards each other, completely cover the space 

 within the turf banks, and envelop both the decoys 

 and their wild dupes. 



There are always a certain number of lookers-on 

 in the hut, armed with guns, and the shooters, 

 on perceiving the arrival of a lot of Pigeons, take 

 deliberate aim at those nearest to them on the trees, 

 and, waiting for a signal from the Pigeon-catcher, 

 who first makes sure that everyone is ready, fire the 

 instant the net is pulled. The guns go off as with 

 one report, the net envelops a struggling, fluttering 

 mass of birds, and everybody rushes out to secure 

 the prisoners and pick up the slain. 



By the beginning of November the migration of 

 Pigeons is over ; the autumn sport is at an end. 

 But the birds reappear in February on their return 

 northward, and the winter campaign begins and 

 continues until the end of March ; with this altera- 

 tion, however, that the hut is made to face the south, 

 for the fowler must keep a look-out in the direction 

 in which the birds are expected to arrive. 



In this, the extreme south-west part of France, 

 for some years past, Pigeon-catching has increased 

 to such an extent that, notwithstanding the fecundity 

 of these unfortunate birds, their numbers are ob- 

 served to be diminishing sensibly from year to year. 

 The flocks now seen are much smaller, usually 



