82 
The Crooks (c, Fig. IV), -which are used for staking the 
bottom edge of net to the ground, are cut from the branches 
of some hardwood tree, the long end being about six inches 
in length. 
The above represents braced bird, and the appliances for using it. 1 
bobber; 2, fly -stick; 3, braced-bird; 4, brace-line; 5, water-cap. 
The Bobber (1, Fig. V), which is used in connection with 
fly-stick for raising and flying braced-bird, is constructed as 
follows: a is a piece of hardwood two and a half inches 
long, half an inch thick and five-eighths of an inch wide ; 
6 is a piece of No. 10 wire that when bent so as to form an 
eye at top is nine inches long, and passes through a, leaving 
a space of half an inch between wires, in which the fly- 
stick moves up and down; e is also of No. 10 wire, bent as 
shown, passing through a horizontally outside of perpen- 
dicular wire b, the ends being pointed and bent downward, 
are, together with the long ends of b, forced into the ground, 
which keeps it firmly in position; d is also a piece of wood 
pivoted on wire e, with tapering hole in end, into which the 
fly-stick is inserted. The wires should fit snugly in a, so as 
to permit only of being moved to suit the conditions of hard 
and soft ground, and to regulate the height of raising bird, 
d should work more easily on wire c yet not loosely. To 
raise fly-stick pass brace-line through eye in top of wire b, 
and fasten to stick. 
THE AMERICAN FIELD. 
each top-line and allowed about a foot of slack by means of 
clamps and placed them over heel-pins, taking also an extra 
turn, we go to the other end and taking with us two more 
heel-pins, repeat what we have just done, but taking care 
that the lines are stretched perfectly straight and tight, and 
that these pins, upon which so much strain comes, are 
secure. The top-lines of nets now form two straight, paral- 
lel lines, and care should be taken not to move them in any 
way until after the cheeks are driven in. These should now 
be driven in at the points along top-line where the eyes ap- 
pear at ends of nets, inclining slightly outward so that the 
wire will project on outside of line sufficient to cause the 
net when stretched on stafi and held perpendicularly to 
have a tendency to fall inwards. We will now pass the 
socket of staffs over wires in the cheeks, and let out suffi- 
cient of the slack of top-lines to permit of their being 
stretched over and attached to button on top of staffs. This 
being done we will proceed to stake down the bottom edge 
of nets— first the four corners, and then the hollow places 
between them. The bobbers and fly-sticks come next, and 
if five are used should be placed as shown in Fig. I, the 
lines attached, some food for birds placed at ends of fly- 
sticks and their water- cups put down and filled, when we 
can put on the pull-line, the ends of the arms entering into 
the same eyes of top-lines the buttons of staffs have, as 
Jan. 14 
In handling the bird avoid pressure on its body ; hold it 
firmly, and without tremor, between the forefinger and 
thumb around its neck— thumb across its throat, back of 
bird next' the palm of hand, and when it is necessary to 
change its position in the hand, always keep the hands 
moving when doing so or it may escape. 
Now, this may all appear too extensive and complicated 
at first for some to attempt, but there are members of every 
club who have sufficient ingenuity and the necessary intui- 
tion that by application and study could construct and use 
their own nets, which would not only be a gratification of 
their individual pleasure, but also of profit and advantage 
to the members in general. With these nets, and by follow- 
ing the instructions given, the merest tyro could catch a 
great many birds in a day— frequently a hundred or more. 
It should always be borne in mind that the method is not 
The Brace (Fig. YI) is composed of four cords and swivel, 
to be placed upon bird as a means of fastening it without 
injury, and to leave every movement of the bird free and 
natural. The ring should be of German silver wire, formed 
over a lead pencil, a common pin completing the swivel. 
The cords should be of soft cotton, which when stretched 
in a straight line should measure about one and three- 
quarter inches. To put it on the bird pass it over its head 
so as to appear like two cords encircling its body, with 
swivel at breastbone, and the knot of cords in center of the 
back of bird, when it will only be necessary to put each 
wing and leg of the bird (in the order named) between the 
cords on each side of brace. 
The Brace-lines should be of mattress twine, fifty yards 
long, and wound upon reel to prevent twisting. 
Blind Cages are also necessary to receive the birds after 
they are caught, which are a light frame of wood about one 
foot square by five inches high, covered with cloth — a stock- 
ing leg at top in the middle forming the door. These, to- 
gether with a receptacle for carrying them called a pack 
(Fig. VII), which is a light rigid frame, also covered with 
cloth (the nets and other appliances being rolled up on top), 
and a small hatchet, a sickle and a camp stool the outfit is 
complete. 
HOW TO SET THE NETS. 
Having described each part separately, we will now con- 
sider how to put them together. Taking for granted that 
the place which we have selected to put the nets down is 
perfectly level and clean, and that the end of the pull-line 
will reach a fence or other slight relief or cover, the pack is 
placed upon the ground in the middle of where the nets are 
intended to be set, and the nets laid in a line on each side of 
it. We how take two staffs and lapping them about nine 
inches, lay them on the ground at ends of top-lines of nets, 
nearest where we intend to stand. Taking the hatchet we 
drive two heel-pins in at the extremes of the staffs, when the 
distance between the two pins will be the length of both 
staffs less the nine inches we lapped them. Having taken 
'VE 
caught is a very important feature, for if used for trap pur- 
poses it will be necessary to keep them in the most vigorous 
condition possible from the moment they are caught until 
used. They should be given a little seed in the blind cages, 
as also water in the dips outside, and the cage must be kept 
out of the sun, but the sooner they can be liberated into the 
ultimate place designed for keeping them the better. This 
can either be a room or out-building sufficiently tight to 
hold them, provided with ledges and perches, which would j 
be more convenient when catching them out again if made j 
portable. Their staple food here should be feed meal (yel- ^ 
low corn) and wheat, with an occasional change of some 
other small grain or seed, or soaked stale bread, and they 
should be liberally fed and watered at least once a day. 
Their water should be given in large flat pans, and the floor 
of the room should be covered with sand. If the room is 
not too high the birds can be caught out of it by means of a 
long landing net used in fishing. A flat store cage should 
be used to convey the birds where they are to be used, and 
care taken of them by seeing that they have food and water, 
and are kept in a quiet place out of the sun, when if there 
are any left they can be returned to room without injury. 
study of the habits of the bird, and by a few practical les- 
sons in the shape of successes and failures it will not be 
difficult to determine where a good catch can be made. 
Indianapolis, Ind. 
NOTES. 
Utica, Minn., has a curiosity in the person of Herman 
Harnes who has slept almost continuously for seven years. 
Powerful electric batteries or other means fail to awaken 
him. At the time the sleep began in 1880, he weighed one 
hundred and eighty pounds ; now he weighs less than ninety 
pounds. He lies on his back, breathes naturally and suffers 
little pain, but is gradually wasting away. About 11 o’clock 
every evening he awakes for five or six minutes, during 
which time he hurriedly eats a soft boiled egg, a little soup, 
a swallow of coffee, and again falls asleep. His mind is 
perfectly clear. In the Summer of 1884 he awoke one morn- 
ing, arose from his bed, put on his clothes, and went about 
his work. Told that he had slumbered four years, he grew 
indignant and would not believe that he had slept more 
than a night until led before a mirror and shown his long 
TV. 
in any way to be considered as a baited trap, but that the 
principle involved is to take the bird unawares — to fool it — 
and that it is easier to fool one than ten. The number caught 
at the end of the day will depend largely in bagging every 
bird that comes within the scope of the nets. Make it a 
rule to be satisfied with one, if no others are in sight, lor 
after the old adage, “a bird in the hand,” etc., a sparrow in 
the nets is worth seventeen on the fence. 
As to the when and where to go, while there are some 
given rules for this, still the birds are so quick to take 
alarm, and so communicative, that it is not possible at times 
to account for their movements. Their vast numbers and 
nomadic habits, however, will offset this, and by a little 
The Fly-stick (2, Fig. V), to which the braced-bird is 
attached, and caused to sit upon, is a stiS willow switch, 
about two feet long, with loop, about four and a half inches 
long, made of fishing line, wrapped on the small end by 
means of waxed thread. 
shown in Fig. YIII. Now we are all ready but the braced 
birds, which are put on sticks by passing the loop at the end 
entirely through the ring of brace, then passing bird through 
the loop and pulling tight on ring. Let us now take the 
empty pack and retire to end of pull-iine, and when seated 
upon camp-stool we will be ready for business. 
HOW TO TAKE CAKE OP THE BIRDS. 
The management and handling of the birds after they are 
