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delight to insult them : the Tit-mouse, the 
Finch, the Red-breast, the Black-bird, the 
Jay, the Thrush, &c assemble to enjoy the 
sport. The bird of night remains perched 
upon a branch, motionless and confounded, 
hears their movements and their cries, which 
are incessantly repeated, because it answers 
them only With insignificant gestures, turn- 
ing round its head, its eyes, and its body with 
a foolish air. It even suffers itself to be as- 
saulted w ithout making resistance ; the small- 
est, the weakest of its enemies, are the most 
eager to torment it. Upon this play of mock- 
ery, or of natural antipathy, bird-catchers have 
founded a method of taking great numbers of 
the smaller species of birds. They place an 
Owl in the situation where a number of limed 
twigs are spread, in order to lure other birds. 
The best time is very early in the morning or 
about an hour before the close of the day ; for 
if this diversion be deferred later, the small 
birds which assemble in the day to insult over 
the bird of night with so much audacity 
and obstinacy, avoid the rencounter after the 
evening shades have restored his vigour, and 
encouraged his exertions. 
