PIGEON- STEALERS. 



113 



scarcely a solitary bird escapes. The history of 

 their unexpected and untimely capture is briefly 

 this. 



Three or four daring villains, provided with a 

 net, and some willow -crates, (the darker the night 

 the better) proceed to the dove-cot which has been 

 denounced for pilfer. A ladder of convenient 

 length is stolen for the occasion* Slowly and 

 silently these nocturnal thieves approach the 

 farmers dove-cot. Arrived at the spot, two of 

 them ascend the ladder in order to reach the 

 glover, over which they gently throw the net. 



This done, their comrades below, tap gently at 

 the door of the dove-cot ; making a noise just 

 sufficient to awake the inmates, without causing 

 them to fly all at once to the four openings at the 

 bottom of the glover. A few more gentle taps, 

 cause the awakened birds to attempt an escape : 

 and as fast as each bird passes out of the dove-cot, 

 it is arrested in its course by the net, and there 

 becomes the prey of the thieves. 



Thus, the required number is obtained; whilst 

 the robbery has been effected with little or no 

 noise. 



The booty is disposed of in baskets, and taken to 

 the game-vendor who had hired the plunderers. 

 They are well paid for their nocturnal exertions. 



M 



