DECOYING AND TRAPPING ANIMALS. 37 



mistaken by tlie wild birds as a natural proceeding ; tbey 

 accordingly alight around tbe play-bird, to assist it in feeding. 

 Tlie pull-line of tlie net is then smartly jerked, which, causes 

 the forked-line to fly inwards, and, acting on the hinged pegs 

 and top and bottom lines as by a lever, the staves rise from 

 the outside, become perpendicular, and finally fall over, inclosing 

 all within the open space in the nets. 



The "play-bird" is alway placed on the left hand of the 

 birdcatcher, about two yards into the net. Sometimes more 

 than one play-stick and bird are used; all are, however, played 

 by the same string. The best birds are, however, contrary to 

 my expectations, not used, as the constant pulling up and 

 down, to say nothing of the worry of the falling nets, very 

 soon kills the poor little "play-bird." From Michaelmas to 

 Christmas would appear to be the best times for catching. 



Many rare birds not calculated on by the operator, are 

 procured in this way. I allude to hawks, which constantly 

 dash at the call, or play-birds, of the netsman. I remember 

 seeing, taken in a lark net on the racecourse of Corfu — one of 

 the Ionian Isles — a most beautiful male specimen of the hen 

 harrier {Circus cyaneus, Macg.) ; and here in England I have 

 received, within the last few years, one great grey shrike 

 {Lanius excubitor, L.), four or five hobby hawks {Falco suhbuteo, 

 L.), a dozen or more merlins {Falco cesalon, Tunstall), and a 

 great number of sparrowhawks, and kestrels, all captured by 

 this method. 



Draw-nets are those used by fen-men and others at night for 

 taking lark, snipe, plover, &c., by dragging a long net of a 

 certain construction over the fields and swamps. The actual 

 originator of this method of capture as applied to snipe and 

 such birds, appears to have been Mr. Daniel himself {vide 

 "Eural Spt)rts," vol. 3, p. 179). 



Glade nets, which are nets stretched in narrow glades or 

 ridings in woods from tree to tree, are used chiefly for taking 

 night-flying birds, such as woodcocks, or wild ducks. Folkard 

 thus describes their use : 



The proceedings connected with the use of glade nets appear to be 

 very simple. These nets are of lengths and breadths proportioned to the 

 places in which they are suspended. They are simply pieces of fine 



