BIRD-CATCHING. 
481 
evil result. He may set aside every objection usually 
advanced against this sport, for he will be sure not to 
adopt any branch of the amusement which may be 
attended with mischievous results. The clap-net, the 
trammel, the springe and the noose, have, as yet, never 
ruined a good disposition; by far rather has dame Nature, 
by means of the decoy-bird, taught and ennobled many a 
one, and has awakened in the hearts of many, love 
towards her and her children. The decoy-ground is 
beyond reproach, and on this account we will now pass 
an hour or two in the hut of the fowler, at least in 
imagination. 
It is early morning; night still lingers silent and dark 
over the mountains, and the wind blows light, though 
chilly, on us at our departure, for autumn has already 
bedecked the grassy slopes with her thin shells of crystal, 
which glisten and shine in the darkness like pearls of 
dew in the light of dawn: this icy glitter, however, is 
cold,—and we shiver. The road is rough and steep, and 
we walk slowly, because we are forced to. The forest 
rises like a black wall before us, but opens out on our 
nearer approach. Here we are out of reach of the wind, 
which was cold, though it blew from the south-west 
and is favourable to our sport: we are warm and com¬ 
fortable within our woodland palace. 
With the first glint of the sun in the east a joyous 
song strikes on the ear: it is the bright clear lay of the 
Thrush. Birds singing in the autumn,—how is that ? 
It is a caged decoy-bird belonging to a bird-catcher, for 
none other sing at this season of the year: to them the 
autumn must be as spring, for the poor creatures have 
been kept in the dark during the spring and summer; 
and now on being restored to light they are deceived, and 
