334 OF THE SMALL BIRDS OF FLIGHT. 



fo great* that the wild bird is flopped in its courfeof 

 flight, and if not already acquainted with the nets*, 

 lights boldly within twenty yards of perhaps three 

 or four bird catchers, on a fpot which otherwife it 

 would not have taken the left notice of ; nay, it fre- 

 quently happens, that if half a flock only are caught, 

 the remaining half will immediately afterwards light 

 in the nets, and fhare the fame fate; and mould only 

 one bird efcape, that bird will fuffer itfelf to be pulled 

 at, till it is caught, fuch a fafcinating power have the, 

 call-birds. 



While we are on this fubjeft of the jerking of birds, 

 we cannot omit mentioning, that the bird-catchers 

 frequently lay confiderable wagers whofe call-bird can 

 jerk the longeft, as that determines the fuperiority. 

 They place them oppofite to each other, by an inch 

 of candle, and the bird who jerks the ofteneft, before 

 the candle is burnt out, wins the wager. We have 

 been informed, that there have been inftances of a: 

 bird's giving a hundred and feyent-y jerks in a quarter 

 of an hour-, and we have known a linnet, in fuch a 

 trial, perfevere in its emulation till it fwooned from 

 the perch : thus, as Pliny fays of the nightingale, 

 vicla inorte fink f ape vitam^ fpiritu priiis deficient e quam 

 cantu -f\ 



It may be here obferved, that birds when near each 

 other, and in fight, feldom jerk or fing. They either 

 fight, or ufe fhort and wheedling calls ; the jerking 



* A bird, acquainted with the nets, is by the bird-catchers termed 

 a /harper, which they endeavour to drive away, as they can have 

 no fport whilft it continues near them.. 



f Lib. x. c. 29. 



Of 



