lO 



British Cage Birds. 



the distance of the shelter occupied by the bird-catcher, 

 which should be behind a thickset edge or bush, or among 

 wins or trees. In the open space between the nets, fix in 

 a piece of wood called a "stale," with a mortise hole made 

 near the top of it, and through this hole pass a rough twig 

 or stick, about 2ft. long, and pivot it at the end nearest the 

 operator ; a string should then be- attached to the farthest 

 end from the operator, to be used as required (see Fig. 1). 

 At this end must be secured a decoy bird, properly trained 

 and braced. If the operator fails to stimulate him to call 

 vociferously, he stirs him up by pulling the cord attached to 

 the cross stick in the stale. Another piece of wood, in the 

 shape of a cross, should be fixed a few feet away from the 

 stale, to prevent the nets, when they are drawn, doing any 

 damage to the entrapped birds. If this operation is skilfully 

 performed, many birds may be secured. The method of lay- 

 ing the clap-net is clearly shown at Fig. 2. A hatchet, a 

 mallet, a stout pocket-knife, a needle and some packthread 

 and twine, and boxes or cages, are among the further re- 

 quirements of a bird-fowler. 



Decoy Bushes. — In the autumn, when large numbers of 

 birds are flocking southward preparatory to migrating, or in 

 the spring, when they again return, it has been found a good 

 plan to put up, in suitable places, a few stout branches cut 

 from trees such as the oak, elm, or birch, and set them in 

 open plains, moors, or fens, or other desirable places where 

 birds in flocks are known to congregate, or cross in their 

 passage. These branches should be firmly planted in the 

 ground, and the upper parts should be half cut through, 

 and bent over to form a sort of roof or platform. Then 

 notches should be made in the branches, or holes bored, 

 and limed twigs securely placed in them. Decoy birds must 

 be used, and the cages which contain them must be placed 

 beneath the branches on the ground, so that, whilst they 

 can observe birds flying over them, they themselves cannot 

 be seen by their confreres when on the wing. The success 

 of this plan greatly depends on the call birds. You want 

 a bird that will call vociferously and almost incessantly. A 

 newly-caught bird is generally best for this purpose, or, at 

 least, one that has not been too long accustomed to domestic 

 life, as such birds rarely make satisfactory decoys. 



