Book I. Q2(3\C1T HO LO QY. 



39 



§. in. 



How to take Larks with Nets, called by the Italians Pantiere, 



THefe Nets are about four [ Roman ] yards deep, or a little more, of the fame 

 Ma Hi with the ordinary Day-nets, ftrung on the upper fide on a Cord, upon 

 which they run with a row of little Rings, whereby they may be drawn out, or run 

 up together as one pleafes. Thefe Nets are fupported by two or three Stakes, or 

 more, according to the widenefs of the place where they are fet. They are to be put 

 in order two hours before Sun-fet, for the Evening-driving 5 and for the Morning- 

 driving, before break of day 5 in ftubble-fields. About Musket-lhot from the Nets 

 two men on foot holding a rope of twenty or twenty five yards long, one at one end, 

 the other at the other, muft begin and walk towards the Nets, drawing the Rope 

 over the ftubble, and fo railing the Larks that lie fcattered up and down the field: 

 the which will not take wing, but run forward before the rope, till at laft they come 

 within the Nets, which being not ftretcht out ftreight,but eafily running up, the more 

 they ftruggle and fly about, the more they are entangled. 



How the Italians take fmall Birds with a Net called Ragna. 



THe place for ufing thefe Nets is a Grove, ( called from the Nets Ragnaia ) 

 which ought to be remote from high ways, and defended from the North- 

 wind 5 which is very dif agreeable and diftafteful to the Birds, efpecially Thrufkes and 

 Beccafigos, befides the danger of the Woods being wholly or in part blafted by it. 

 Wherefore it Ihould be fituate infome Valley, or onthefideof a little Hill expofedto 

 the South. Through it, orbefide it Ihould run fome River, Brdbk, or other dream 

 of water iffuing from a quick Spring, that fails not in Summer. If it be fo fituate as to 

 be encompafTed on all fides with cultivated fields, in which grow fome {battering Fig- 

 trees, it will be the better. This Grove is wont to bemadefix, eight, ten, or twelve 

 times lb long as it is broad, according as the place will permit : In it long-ways muft 

 be drawn three, five, or feven walks, as it is broader or narrower. In cafe it hath not 

 a natural fence or hedge you mull: make an artificial one, which muft be tall and thick 

 to keep beads out, and birds in, and even on the top. 



The Grove within muft be planted with Juniper, Bays, Maftic-tree, Lime-trees, 

 Oaks, Elms, and many other trees but efpecially Fig-trees. At the roots of fuch 

 trees as call: their leaves plant Vines. Many other inftru&ions and directions he hath 

 about the Plantation, which who fo pleafes may fee in him. 



The Nets are exa&ly like thofedefcribed,Se&ion I. Chap. I. £. II. only the Maui 

 fome what lefs, they being for fmall birds. The two out-fide Nets or falfe Nets along 

 their upper edge muft have Iron or Horn-rings, and by them be put upon a. ftrong 

 Cord. The middle or true Net muft alfo be verged with a Cord. Thefe Nets, one, 

 two, or more of them, muft be placed in the middle of the Grove, and crofting it 5 

 faftned by the top-cords to two great Poles or Pillars, made with winding fteps round 

 to mount up them 3 and on their tops having little rundles to draw the Lines- nimbly;, 

 and ftretch out the Nets. The bottom of the Nets, or that fide next the ground muft 

 have many firings hanging down from it, two or three Palms diftant one from another, 

 which are to be tied down to certain Pegs faftned in the earth. The middle Net, 

 . which muft be the deeper, will fall down furEciently in a lump or furl between the 

 two fide-ones, therefore with a Cane you muft draw it gently through the Mafties 

 of the falfe Nets, efpecially about the middle of the Nets, making in each Math a 

 kind of purfe or pouch, that when any Bird ftrikes againft it, it may more readi- 

 ly run through the Maihes of the falfe net, and fo catch the Bird as it were in a 

 Bag. 



The time for catching is either in the Morning early, before the Birds are gone out 

 to feed, or at Even when they come to rooft. At each end of the Grove in every 

 walk oneperfon muft march forward toward the Net, making a noife as he goes with 

 a Cane or SarT, and throwing ftones or clods of earth, if it be for. Beccafigos : But if 

 it be for Thmfees at firft he muft walk quietly and leifurely, without making much 

 noife 5 and as he comes nearer the Nets,fo make greater haft and more noife. Whence 



it 



