Of the small birds of flight. 33t 



It may well deferve the attention of the naturalift 

 whence thefe periodical flights of certain birds can 

 arife. The vernal flight feems to be owing to the 

 influence of the feafon of love : they are then in 

 iearch of fit places to indulge their paflion, and 

 fecure retreats for their nefts and younglings : on the 

 contrary, the autumnal flight, which is moft numer- 

 ous, confifts in great part of the parents conducting 

 the new fledged young to thofe places where tnere is 

 found provifion, and a proper temperament of air 

 during the winter feafon. 



It may not be improper to mention another cir- 

 cumftance, to be obferved during their paftage, viz. 

 that they fly always againft the wind ; (except the 

 chaffinch, who flies acrofs the wind ; that is, if the 

 wind is fouth, it flies from the weft ; if north, from 

 the eaft) hence, there is great contention amongft the 

 bird-catchers who fhall gain the wind ; which, if (for 

 example) it is weflerly, the bird-catcher who lays his 

 nets moft to the eaft, is fure almoft of catching every 

 thing, if his call-birds are good : a gentle wind to the 

 fouth-weft generally produces the beft fport. 



The bird-catcher, who is a fubftantial man, and 

 hath a proper apparatus for this purpofe, generally 

 carries with him five or fix linnets (of which more are 

 caught than any other ringing bird) two goldfinches^ 

 two greenfinches, one woodlark, one redpoll, and per- 

 haps a bull-finch j zyellowhammer, titlark, and aberda- 

 vine *, thefe are placed at fmall diftances from the 

 nets in little cages. He hath, befides, what are 

 called flur-birds, which are placed within the nets, 



Y are 



