ON THE SMALL BIRDS: OF FLIGHT. 
These. birds, during, the, Michaelmas~ and 
March flights, are chiefly on the wing from day- 
break till. noon, though there is afterwards a 
small fight from two, till night ;,-but this) how- 
ever is so inconsiderable, that the icc ein 
always take up their nets at noon. ito 
It may well deserve the attention of the na- 
turalist_whence. these periodical flights of certain 
birds can arise. ..As the ground,, however, is 
ploughed during the months of October and 
March for sowing the winter and lent corn, ‘it 
should seem that they are thus supplied with a 
great profusion both of seeds and insects, which 
they cannot so easily procure at any other 
season. 
It may not be improper to mention another 
circumstance, to be observed during their flit- 
ting,. wiz. that they fiy always against the wind; 
hence, there is great contention amongst. the 
bird-catchers who shall gain that point; if (for 
example) it is westerly, the bird-catcher who 
lays his nets most to the east, is sure almost of 
catching every thing, provided his call-birds are 
good : a gentle w ‘Wd to the south-west, = ada! 
produces the best-sport: : 
The bird- catcher, who is a substantial man, 
and hath a “proper apparatus. for this. purpose, 
generally carries with him five or six linnets (of 
BL7 
