CHOUGHS, CROWS, AND ROOKS. 5l 



overturning from the Plover Nette (formerly spoken of in the Water Fowle), 

 only if it be larger and the coards longer it is not amisse, this Net being 

 before or neere unto Barn doores where Corne is a thrashiug, or in any 

 such place where Corne hath beene winnowed and the chaffe remaining, 

 with which you shall ever observe to cover and hide the net as soone as it 

 is laid, so as it may not be seen, and then as soone as the flockes of birdes 

 come, and are scraping amongst the chaffe, you lying aloofe off conceald, 

 with the coard in your hand, shall sodenly draw it and overturne the net 

 upon the Birds, by which at one pull you may take many Crowes "(p. 90). 



This description has been paraphrased by Nicholas Cox, in 

 his 'Gentleman's Recreation' (1674),* in the section " Of 

 Fowling," without any acknowledgment of the source whence he 

 derived it. 



" The general way of taking these Land-fowl of several Sorts together, 

 is either by Day or by Night. If by Day, it is done by the great Net, 

 commonly called the Crow-net, and not at all differs in Length, Depth, 

 bigness of Mesh, manner of laying, etc. from the Plover-net; only it will 

 not be amiss if the Cords be longer. 



" This net you may lay before Barn-doors, or where Corn hath been 

 winnowed, also in Stubble-fields, so concealing the Net that the Fowl may 

 not discern the Snare. When you perceive a quantity within the Net 

 scraping for Food, and you lie concealed afar off, with your Cord in your 

 Hand, suddenly pull the net over them." 



The chief time for using this net would seem to be in the 

 winter months, or at all events after harvest time, when the 

 fields have been cleared. Richard Blome, in his ' Gentleman's 

 Recreation,' a fine folio printed in 1686, thus describes (p. 145) 

 " how to take wildfowl with a net called a Crow-net" : — 



"There is an Invention for taking wild Fowl in Winter with the Crow- 

 net, which may be used in the Day time. It is made of double twisted 

 thread, or fine packthread; the Meshes should be two Inches wide, the 

 length about two Yards, and three in depth ; It must be verged on the 

 sides with good strong cord, and extended out very stiff upon long poles 

 made for that purpose. 



" When you are on the place you intend to spread your net, open it, and 

 lay it out at its full length and breadth ; then fasten the lower end of the 

 net all along on the ground, so as only to move it up and down. The 



* < iphQ Gentleman's Kecreation ; in four parts, viz. Hunting, Hawking, 

 Fowling, Fishing.' There have been numerous editions of this book (1674, 

 1677, 1686, 1697, 1706, and 1721), which was at one time exceedingly popular, 

 though only a compilation, and is even now esteemed by collectors. 



