METHOD OF NETTING. 183 



of my own origination and are constructed with a view to simplicity 

 and convenience, and at the same time are so perfect that the mechan- 

 ical operation of the nets is within the bounds of a child's comprehen- 

 sion. My little boy, nine years old, displays remarkable judgment in 

 their manipulation. I have several outfits, and it has frequently been 

 necessary for me to engage inexperienced persons to operate them. 

 They learn at once, and always succeed in catching a number of birds, 

 the measure of success depending upon individual intuition and dex- 

 terity. Of course a great deal depends upon a knowledge of the habits 

 of the bird, and the when aud where to go to catch them ; and while 

 there are some given rules for this, still in most part it is perplexing- 

 even to an expert, and experience alone can teach it. 



The nets aud other appliances used in trapping Sparrows are figured 

 and fully described in the accompanying paper. 



ENGLISH SPARROW CATCHING.* 

 DESCRIPTION OF APPARATUS AND METHODS EMPLOYED. 



If we wish to catch a bird we must first acquaint ourselves with its 

 nature and habits, that we may intelligently bring to bear upon it the 

 proper means to insure success. Many birds, at certain seasons of the 

 year, are readily caught with simple devices carelessly applied, but the 

 English Sparrow, at all times, is the same cunning, wary little feliow, 

 not to be caught with chaff alone, and great care is necessary in 

 any approach upon it. Considering, however, that we have a vantage 

 ground in its gregarious, nomadic habits, and following in this direc- 

 tion, we produce something that appeals directly to its extreme greedi- 

 ness and curiosity, which shall be life-like aud real; and, realizing that 

 it is quick to take alarm, we so apply it as to cause the bird to act im- 

 pulsively, and to enable us to take it by surprise as much as possible. 



The method used so successfully and almost exclusively by me re- 

 quires nets, with decoy and braced birds, placed in the line of flight of 

 the birds to and from their sleeping and feeding places. The wild birds 

 are influenced by the decoy birds and then directed into the nets by 

 means of the braced birds, and are invariably caught while on the wing 

 or in the act of settling. The nets can also be used to great ad- 

 vantage in places where the birds are known to harbor, in which case 

 decoy birds are not necessary ; but there should be no building, tree, 

 or other object for the bird to alight upon inside of 50 yards from the 

 nets, it being best to attract its attention while on the wing, as well as 

 to prevent it from discerning anything unusual. The skillful operation 

 of the nets, in the main, consists in properly judging the flight of the 



*This article, by Mr. Hill, taken from the American Field of January 14, 1888, is 

 substituted here for the description of apparatus and methods which accompanied 

 his original contribution of September 30, 1887. 



