53 o OF THE SMALL BIRDS OF FLIGHT. 



over each other, till he becomes eye witnefs of the 



pullers feldom failing *. 



The wild birds fly (as the bird-catchers term it) 

 chiefly during the month of Oclober, and part of 

 thefe of September and November : the flight in March 

 being much lefs considerable than it is at Michaelmas. 

 It is to be noted alfo, that the feveral fpecies of thefe 

 birds of flight do not make their appearance at the 

 fame time, but at different periods, during the 

 months of September, October and November ; for in- 

 ftance, the pippit f begins his flight every year about 

 Michaelmas, when they are caught in the greater! 

 numbers : to this the woodlark fucceeds, and con- 

 tinues his flight till towards the middle of October ; 

 and it is very remarkable, though both thefe fpecies 

 of birds are moft eafily caught during their flight, 

 yet when that is over, no art can feduce them into 

 the nets. When the wcodlark y s fecond flight begins, 

 which is in February, they are as eafily caught as be- 

 fore : the other birds are not quite fo punctually 

 periodical in their flight ; fat greenfinch does not begin 

 his till the frofts kt in. 



The birds, during thofe months, fly from day 

 break to twelve at noon, and there is afterwards a 

 fmall flight from two till night ; though this is fo 

 inconflderable, that the bird-catchers always take up 

 their necs at nocn. 



* Thefe nets are known in moft parts of England by the name 

 of day-nets or clap-vets; but all we have feen are iar inferior in their 

 irechsniim to thoie uied near London. 



f A fmall lark; but which is much inferior to other birds of 

 lhis fpecies in point oJ iinging. 



It 



