*D 43 E5M 
 
 BIRD PRESERVING 
 
 AND 
 
 BIRD MOUNTING. 
 
 BY 
 
 RICHARD AVIS, 
 
 ^^H 
 
 f__ 
 
 ElfB 
 
THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 PRESENTED BY 
 
 PROF. CHARLES A. KOFOID AND 
 MRS. PRUDENCE W. KOFOID 
 
BIRD-PRESERVING 
 
BIRD-PRESERVING 
 
 BIRD-MOUNTING 
 
 AND THE 
 
 PRESERVATION OF BIRDS' EGGS. 
 
 WITH A CHAPTER ON BIRD-CATCHING, 
 
 RICHARD AVIS, 
 
 AUTHOR OF "THE CANARY" 
 
 Illustrations. 
 
 LONDON AND NEW YORK 
 
 FREDERICK WARNE AND CO. 
 
fts 
 
 BIED-PEE SERVING. 
 
 ALMOST the first thing a young naturalist takes 
 interest in is what is commonly called " bird-stuffing,'' 
 and with him, when he attempts it, the term is very 
 applicable. Oh ! the wretched, distorted things which 
 rise from their collapsed state, where it had been 
 better had they remained, " they mimicked Nature 
 so abominably." But we must not suppress and dull 
 the aspirations of genius, remembering that the most 
 accomplished in any art had their beginning too. 
 Many things are required to make anything of this 
 art such as delicacy of hand, great practice, but, 
 above all, patience, the most inestimable of all common 
 virtues. But I shall proceed to give a few plain 
 directions, that the aspirant after taxidermal excel- 
 lency may judge and try for himself, ar,d not be dis- 
 heartened. A fair specimen being obtained, take 
 common cotton wadding, and with an ordinary paint- 
 brush stick plug the throat, nostrils, and, in large 
 birds, the cars, with it, so that when the skin is turned 
 no juices may flow and spoil the feathers; you must 
 then provide yourself with the following articles : 
 A knife of this kind, A, which is very common ; a pair 
 of cutting plyers, B ; a pair of strong scissors, c, of a 
 moderate size ; a button-hook, D ; a marrow-spoon, 
 E ; and a hand-vice, r. With these, a needle and 
 thread, and a sharpener of some' kind, to give your 
 
4 BIRD-PRESERVING. 
 
 knife an occasional touch, you are prepared, so far as 
 implements go. Then provide yourself with annealed 
 iron wire of various sizes ; some you may buy ready 
 for use, some not ; but you can anneal it yourself by 
 making it red-hot in the fire, and letting it cool in the 
 air. Common hemp is the next article, cotton 
 wadding, pounded whitening, and pounded alum, or 
 
 chloride of lime ; as to the poisons which are used, 
 they will be spoken of by and by. You should also 
 have a common bradawl or two, and some pieces of 
 quarter-inch deal, whereon to stand the specimens 
 when preserved, if to be placed as walking on a plane ; 
 if not, some small pieces of twigs or small branches of 
 trees should be kept ready for use, of various sizes 
 according to the size of the bird j something of this 
 
TIME FOR PRESERVING. 
 
 form. Spanish chestnut, or common laurel cut in 
 . December, will be found to answer best, but this must 
 
 be regulated by fancy and the requirements of the 
 case ; oak boughs are sometimes of a good shape. 
 
 The best time for preserving specimens is in spring, 
 because then the cock birds are in the best feather, 
 and the weather is not too warm. In mild weather 
 three days is a good time to keep a bird, as then the 
 skin will part from the flesh easily. If a specimen 
 has bled much over the feathers, so as to damage them, 
 wash them carefully but thoroughly with warm water 
 and a sponge, and immediately cover them with 
 pounded whitening, which will adhere to them. Dry 
 it as it hangs upon them slowly before the fire, and 
 then triturating the hardened lumps gently between 
 the fingers, the feathers will come out almost as clean 
 as ever. To test whether the specimen is too decom- 
 posed to skin, try the feathers about the auriculars, 
 and just above the tail, and if they do not move you 
 may safely proceed. 
 
 Lay the bird on his back, and, parting the feathers 
 from the insertion of the neck to the tail, you will find 
 in most birds a bare space. Cut the skin the whole 
 length of this, and passing the finger under it on either 
 
6 BIRD-PRESERVING. 
 
 bide, \)y laying hold of one leg and bending it forward, 
 you will be able to bring the bare knee through the 
 opening you have iwade ; with your scissors cut it 
 through at the joint ; pull the shank still adhering to 
 the leg till the skin is turned back as far as it will go ; 
 denude the bone of flesh and sinew, wrap a piece of 
 hemp round it, steeped in a strong solution of the 
 pounded alum, and then pull the leg by the claw, by 
 which means the skin will be brought again to its 
 place. 
 
 After having served both legs alike, skin carefully 
 round the back, cutting off and leaving in the tail with 
 that into which the feathers grow, that is, the " Pope's 
 nose." Serve the wing bones the same as the leg, 
 cutting them off close to the body, and turn the skin 
 inside out down to the head. The back of the skull 
 will then appear, and you will now find it of advantage, 
 as soon as you have got the legs and tail free, to tie a 
 piece of string round the body, and hang it up as a 
 butcher skins a sheep. Make in the back of the skull 
 
 a cut of the annexed form, with your knife, which you 
 can turn back like a trap-door, and with^the marrow- 
 spoon entirely clear out the brains ; A representing the 
 neck, and B the skin turned back. Having done this, 
 wash the interior of the skull thoroughly with the 
 alum 2 and fill it with cotton wadding. The next ope- 
 
BIRD-STUFFING. J 
 
 ration requires care and practice namely, to get out 
 the eyes. This is done by cutting cautiously until 
 the lids appear, being careful not to cut the eye itself, 
 and you can then with a forceps, which you will like- 
 wise find useful, pull each from its socket; wipe the 
 orifice carefully, wash it with the alum solution, and 
 fill it with cotton wadding. Cut off the neck close to 
 the skull, wash the stump, and the whole of the in- 
 terior of the skin with the alum, and the skinning is 
 done. Now comes the stuffing. The ordinary mode 
 used by bird-preservers is a simple one, and answers 
 very well; there is a French method, however, which 
 has its advantages, and will be adverted to hereafter. 
 Take a piece of the wire suitable to the size of the 
 bird that is, as large as the legs will carry and bend 
 it into the following form, a representing the neck, , 
 the body, and , the junction of the tail, allowing suf- 
 ficient length of neck for the wire to pass some distance 
 
 beyond the head, and being sharpened at each end, 
 which may be done by obliquely cutting it with the 
 plyers. Wind upon this wire hemp to the size of the 
 bird's body, which you should have lying by you to 
 judge from, and it will present something of this ap- 
 pearance. You can shape it with the hand, but be 
 careful not to make it the least too large ; and, after 
 you have finished it to your satisfaction, you may singe 
 it as the poulterer would singe a fowl, which will make 
 all neat ; but be particular to wind the hemp very 
 
8 BIRD-PRESERVING. 
 
 tight. Then take the skin, lay it on the table on its 
 back, and pass the wire at the head into the marrow 
 
 where the neck is cut off, through above the roof of 
 the mouth, and out at one nostril, and draw it up close 
 to the skull ; turn the skin back, and draw it down 
 over the hemp body, and pass the wire spike pro- 
 truding at the lower end through the flesh upon which 
 the tail grows, about the centre, and rather below 
 than above. The skin may now be adjusted to the 
 hemp body, and sewn up, beginning from the top of the 
 breast, and being particularly careful always to take 
 the stitch from inside, otherwise you will draw in the 
 feathers at every pull. At first sew it very loose, 
 and then, with the button-hook, draw it together by 
 degrees. 
 
 With the plyers cut two lengths of wire long enough 
 to pass up the legs and into the neck, and leave some- 
 thing over to fasten the bird by to the board or spray 
 upon which it is to be placed. The next operation 
 requires some address and great practice, namely, the 
 passing the wire up the legs. This is done by forcing 
 it into the centre of the foot, and up the back of the 
 legs into the hemp body, through it obliquely, and 
 into the neck until it is pretty firm. In doing this, 
 you must remember the ordinary position of a bird 
 when alive, and, therefore, instead of passing the wire 
 
HO WTO WIRE. 9 
 
 the whole way within the skin of the leg, when you 
 get to the part where you have cut off the bone, that 
 is, the knee-joint, pass it through the skin to the out- 
 side, and in again through the skin from the outside 
 where the knee would come naturally in the attitude 
 of standing or perching it makes little difference 
 which. This is essential, because if the wire be passed 
 the whole way inside the skin, it produces a wrong 
 placing of the legs. The accompanying cut will illus- 
 
 trate this, a representing the line in which the wire 
 should run. The bird is now stuffed, and you may at 
 once place it upon a spray, or board, as the case may 
 be. In placing a bird upon a spray, the first joint 
 should be bent almost on a level with the foot ; and, 
 in placing a bird on a board, one leg should be placed 
 somewhat behind the other. If the wings are intended 
 to be closed, as is usually the case, bring them into 
 their place, which may be done by putting the fingers 
 under them, and pressing them together over the back ; 
 you may then pass a needle, or large pin, of which you 
 should have a good supply by you, through the thick 
 part of the upper wing into the body, and so by the 
 lower wing, and if you allow these to protrude, you 
 may fasten to one of them a piece of thread, and wind 
 
io BIRD-PRESERVING. 
 
 it carefully and lightly round the body, which will 
 keep the leathers iu their places, and this thread should 
 be kept on for a fortnight or three weeks, until the 
 bird is dry. The tail should be kept iu its place also 
 for the same time, by a piece of thin wire bent over it 
 thus : 
 
 The only thing now to do is to put in the eyes. 
 The colour of course depends on the bird, and these 
 you may buy at any fishing-tackle shop. If you do 
 not use eyes too large, you will find little difficulty ; 
 the juice of the lids will act as a sufficient cement. As 
 to the mounting, I shall say nothing about that now, 
 but shall only advert shortly to a Prench method of 
 preserving, which is more difficult, but has the advan- 
 tage of superior firmness. It is this : Measuring from 
 the insertion of the neck to the tail, make a wire frame 
 of this form, the measure taken being from A to B. 
 
 Upon this wind hemp for the neck only, and place in 
 the skin in the same way as before directed, only that 
 instead of one wire being passed through that in which 
 the tail grows, it is a fork that is passed through it. 
 Having formed this frame, fit on to it two legs thus : 
 and after the frame itself is in the skin, pass these 
 from the inside down each leg, instead" of from the 
 outside, and fasten them on to the frame with the 
 plyers by twisting the ends, B 13, round the frame, c, 
 in the first figure. This will make all firm, and you 
 
HOW TO FIX. n 
 
 can then fill the body with cut hemp, and sew up. 
 One word as to the other preparations used by bird- 
 
 preservers. These are either corrosive sublimate or 
 regulus of arsenic, which is yellow and of a consistence 
 like butter. As I have said before, in cold weather, 
 when there are no flies about, alum will do perfectly 
 well ; in warm weather either of the two others may 
 be used. I should prefer the former corrosive sub- 
 limateas the other is " messy," and the chief object 
 is to dry up anything which can be attacked by flesh- 
 seeking insects. AVhen you have finished your bird, 
 you can lay the feathers with a large needle it is as 
 well to have one fixed in a handle and kept for this 
 purpose and, tying the two mandibles of the bill 
 together with a piece of thread until the whole speci- 
 men has hardened and dried, the work is done. 
 
12 BIRD-PRESERVING. 
 
 BIRD-MOUNTING-. 
 
 WE will suppose that a proficiency, from practice, lias 
 been attained in the art of bird -preserving, according 
 to the instructions given. The proficiency in pre- 
 serving may apply only to the preservation and the 
 form, great and necessary things, no doubt, as pre- 
 liminaries ; but, like matter without manner, of little 
 avail alone. For attitude, I would say, as has been 
 said to many a young artist, Go to Nature, and there 
 you will find an original in perfection. Would you 
 make a willow-wren look like a willow-wren, watch 
 him as he there hangs upon the weeping birch, or 
 stands on a bough peering in quest of food. Each 
 bird has its own manner, and if you cannot hit the 
 manner, or make your stuffed skin so far amenable as 
 to assume the attitude, it is either ill-stuffed, or you 
 want the requisite knowledge of that which you should 
 copy. Young hands commonly suppose that a bird 
 should stand bolt upright, with the legs almost per- 
 pendicular, or at right angles to the perch. This is a 
 great mistake, and never to be found in Nature. Do 
 we stand rigid, like a foot-soldier on drill ? Does not 
 a bird, as well as ourselves, accommodate itself to the 
 thing upon which it rests ? Assuredly it does ; for 
 birds do not, as a young bird-stuffer endeavours to do, 
 find always a perch to rest upon in thdr plane of the 
 horizon. It therefore follows that, as he keeps him- 
 self upright, his legs must accommodate themselves to 
 
POSITION OF BIRD. 1 3 
 
 his perch. So in the ground-birds there is a gen- 
 tle slope backwards from the hind toe, the balance 
 
 being preserved in both cases by throwing the body 
 forward in proportion. It is not uncommon to see 
 birds preserved with wings and tail spread. 'Now, 
 ordinarily speaking, this is very objectionable, because 
 very unnatural. A bird preserved is supposed to repre- 
 sent a bird in a state of repose, that is, not in flight ; 
 the only modification allowable being with regard to 
 those birds whose manner it may be to have the wings 
 more or less open on occasions : thus the falcon tribe, 
 supposing they are represented as devouring a quarry, 
 or two birds toying with each other. It may be that 
 a bird essentially aereal, like the wift, or perhaps 
 some of the terns or the frigate-bird, may be repre- 
 sented as actually on the wing. In this case, of course, 
 the wings must be spread ; and this is best done by 
 passing a wire, not too thick, from the base of the quill- 
 feathers on the under side, alongside the bone into the 
 body, where it should be carefully and coaxingly in- 
 serted towards the tail until you feel that you have a 
 pretty good hold, You may then pass it carefully 
 under the longest quill-feather, and through the back 
 of the case, and fasten it by bringing it back again 
 through and clinching it, concealing it so by the oblique 
 position of the bird that it is not detectable. It is 
 obvious that by passing the wire alongside the bone, 
 
14 BIRD-PRESERVING. 
 
 you may bend the wings to any angle you please. 
 With regard to the case there are two methods : one 
 a bell-glass, which, glass being now so reasonable, is 
 certainly a very pretty and reasonable way of mount- 
 ing, but inapplicable to birds which are to be placed 
 on a wall, or to be represented flying ; although this 
 may be managed by attaching one wire from the point 
 of the wing to a twig sufficiently firm, which it will 
 scarcely appear to touch, if managed adroitly. It is 
 likewise indispensable that a bird for a shade should 
 be stuffed so well, as to look nicely in all positions. 
 One thing must always be remembered, do not liave 
 your case a shade too large, just clear the object so as 
 not to stint it for room ; and in flat cases this applies 
 chiefly to depth, for it should have sufficient light, or 
 it will not look well. Wooden cases should be made 
 as slight (in thickness) as is consistent with firmness ; 
 well-seasoned white deal is best ; and the case should 
 be formed of back, top, and bottom, open at the front 
 and sides, and at each corner of the front two slight 
 deal supports, rabbited on their inner edges, and pre- 
 senting on the whole this appearance. 
 
 Having the case prepared, it should be papered with 
 ordinary demy paper on the top and back within, and 
 
 when the paste is dry washed over carefully with size 
 
FIXING CASE. 15 
 
 and whitening, tinted with a little stone-blue ; some 
 add some touches of white subsequently to represent 
 clouds, the ground representing the air ; some also 
 paste a landscape on the back, but this must be good, 
 or you had better have plain colour. The bird to be 
 placed in this case is either perching, standing, or 
 Hying ; for the latter directions have been given. As 
 to the two former, the perch must be firmly fixed in 
 the small piece of flat wood upon which it previously 
 stood, and put in upon it, the wood being fastened to 
 the bottom of the case, either by screwing from below, 
 from above, or gluing with stout glue, or by passing 
 wire through two holes in the bottom of the case and 
 the wood, and clinching above ; in this case, or in 
 screwing fro*n below, let the wire or the screw into 
 the wood, and putty over, and so if the bird is repre- 
 sented standing. The bird being fixed, the next thing 
 is the decorating or " weeding," as it is technically 
 called, and here we enter upon a subject so entirely 
 of taste and fancy, that no fixed rules, as to the dis- 
 position, can in all cases be given. One rule applies 
 equally to this as to landscape painting, viz. that there 
 should always be a compensation of objects ; that is, 
 it' you have a tuft of grass on one side which rises 
 towards the top of the case, there should be something 
 in tin lower opposite corner to strike the eye, but not 
 to rise above the midway up at furthest, and the ground, 
 or floor, should not be over-furnished with moss, &c. 
 After the bird is fixed, the whole bottom should be 
 carefully glued over with thin glue, taking care, where 
 the bird's feet are on the bottom, not to touch the toes 
 
 with the glue. Some fine-sifted sand or gravel should 
 
1 6 BIRD-PRESER VI NC. 
 
 then be sifted over it, and it will adhere wherever the 
 glue has touched ; for this purpose a small tin shovel 
 is best, something in this form, and about two 
 inches wide by four long, with a handle in proportion, 
 which can be made to order at any tinman's for a 
 trifle. 
 
 Everything used in " weeding" should be baked in 
 a slow oven, otherwise spider's eggs and minute crea- 
 tures, which are pretty sure to be contained in it, will 
 make their appearance after the case is closed in the 
 disagreeable form of destroying your specimen. Moss, 
 &c., by being slowly dried, will also keep its colour 
 better. Yellow moss, found on the roofs of old barns, 
 and dark gray of the same species, are very generally 
 useful; and where yellow moss cannot be had, the 
 white or gray may be coloured with chrome, and looks 
 as well. Water plants fade, being more or less succu- 
 lent, and hence a little common water-colour with gum 
 will be used with advantage and look less artificial than 
 oil paint, which is often used. Fern looks very pretty 
 as an adjunct for heath-birds, but it should be dried 
 gradually and carefully, when quite full grown, and a 
 small touch of light green, permanent white forming 
 a portion of it, will give it a freshness and more natural 
 appearance. Grass in seed (not in flower) of various 
 kinds is also a very pretty addition; but bird-preservers 
 have a habit of using dyed grass, and yellow and red 
 XerantJiymum^ or Everlasting, which is certainly to be 
 avoided, and indeed anything which is unnatural. If 
 it is wished to introduce a lump of earth, or an appa- 
 rent bank, a piece of thick brown paper, bent to the 
 requisite shape, and glued over and covered with sifted 
 sand or gravel, has a very good effect ; but insects and 
 butterflies, or artificial flowers, unless they are ex- 
 tremely natural, should certainly be avoided. Eegard 
 should also be had to the season at which the bird 
 
WEEDING. 17 
 
 is usually seen. For instance, summer birds are, of 
 course, surrounded by green and living objects, but 
 autumn or winter visitants by decaying or dead her- 
 bage. It has often been made an experiment to 
 represent snow, but it is difficult to obtain anything 
 white enough, and at the same time of a crystalline 
 character, which, of course, it should be. Potato 
 farina nicely dried, mixed with Epsom salts pounded 
 very fine, does not make a bad substitute; but the real 
 difficulty lies behind, namely, the fixing it, and, more 
 than all, the least damp takes very much from its 
 appearance, if it does not destroy the effect, and hence 
 we must have recourse to mineral aid, and any very 
 white mineral powder mingled with pounded glass is 
 perhaps best. It is unnecessary to say that the herbage 
 upon which it is meant to rest should be touched all 
 over with paste, not glue, and the white mixture shaken 
 over it and left to dry. What will heighten the effect 
 very much, if prettily executed, is a back landscape 
 with a dark leaden sky and nearly black earth mingled 
 with moss. To represent water, a small piece of 
 looking-glass, surrounded with moss, &c., answers very 
 well. The bills and legs of birds should be always 
 varnished, and where the natural colour fades after 
 death it should be restored by a thin coat of oil-colour 
 of the required shade. The bird being fixed and the 
 case garnished, nothing remains but to put in the 
 glass ; this is in three pieces, one for the front and a 
 piece at each end. This can be pasted in with very 
 strong paper round the edge, advancing sufficiently 
 over the glass to hold it. In doing this it is not 
 necessary to be very particular to avoid pasting the 
 glass, as after it is dried it can be wiped clean with a 
 damp cloth. The last operation is a very simple one, 
 and done in a few minutes. You must procure some 
 black spirit-varnish, which you can make yourself by 
 
1 8 BIRD-PRESER VING. 
 
 dissolving the best black sealing-wax in spirits of wine, 
 and should be kept corked ; when this is good it acts 
 as paint and varnish at the same time, and dries as 
 fast as it is put on. One or two brass rings screwed 
 on at the top of the back of the case will finish the 
 bird, and if the case be nicely and closely made, there 
 is no limit of time to which the preservation of the 
 specimen may not extend. 
 
COLLECTING AND PRESERVING 
 BIRDS' EGGS. 
 
 IF I were asked, " In what object is the ' line of 
 oeauty ' found which was first appreciated by and 
 charmed a child's heart ?" I should answer, " In. the 
 form of a bird's egg;" and the reason for this may be 
 readily perceived in a child's own sentiment " Be- 
 cause a little bird makes the egg, and God made the 
 little bird." 
 
 There are articles in daily household use which have 
 partly a similar form, but there seems to be an intui- 
 tive perception in infant minds, that they are the work 
 of mortal hands. 
 
 It matters not whether the egg-shell be fall or 
 empty ; it is the gracefully rounded outline, the curious 
 markings, the delicate tint, or the pure white, com- 
 bined with its utter fragility, which causes it to be 
 longed for, and carefully treasured up when possessed ; 
 but when, by holding it too tightly for fear it should 
 fall, it breaks to pieces between the tiny fingers, the 
 grief that is occasioned thereby leads those who wit- 
 ness it to reflect that " a thing of beauty is not always 
 a joy for ever," but often a source of sorrow. 
 
 Many grown persons collect eggs, some because 
 they are prett} 7 , and form an amusing occupation to 
 them during the leisure hours ; others, because they 
 are a help to the more complete knowledge of the his- 
 
20 PRESER VING BIRDS' EGGS. 
 
 tory and economy of birds ; and is one of these latter 
 class I offer these remarks. 
 
 With regard to their "structure," being composed, 
 as they are well known to be, of minute particles of 
 carbonate of lime, united and strengthened by the 
 addition of a small quantity of animal matter, it is no 
 wonder that when blown they are so fragile, when we 
 consider their thinness. 
 
 My first "collection" of sixty species (by the box 
 containing it falling from the height of an ordinary 
 table) became " smashed," with the solitary exception 
 of one hedge-accentor's, over which I consoled myself 
 as the "nucleus" of a future collection. Of this 
 " special" egg more anon. 
 
 The "form" of eggs is somewhat varied; round, 
 roundish-oval, elongate, larger at one end, equal at 
 both ends, more or less pointed (sometimes at both 
 ends), and pear-shaped ; and all or any of these charac- 
 ters may apply to eggs of birds of the same species or 
 class (with some exceptions), without including any 
 " lusus natura)" or unnatural form, such as bottle- 
 shaped, spindle-shaped, narrowed in the middle, &c. &c. 
 
 Their "size" is variable also, but except in the case 
 of unimpregnated eggs, not very much so ; however, 
 in almost every nest one egg occurs smaller than the 
 rest, and separate birds of the same species lay eggs oi 
 very different sizes ; as, for example, the chats, tits, and 
 sparrows. This may depend greatly upon differences 
 of food and locality, also upon the size of the birds 
 themselves. 
 
 As to " colour," nothing is more variable; bluish, 
 yellowish, brown, red, pink, and purple of various 
 shades, as in the tree-pipit ; blue, green, and brown, 
 more or less deep, as in the gulls ; red, yellow, white, 
 brown, and green, dull in tint, as in the common tern ; 
 white,red,orspotted,asin the robin; speckled, spotted, 
 
COLOUR OF EGGS. 21 
 
 blotched, clouded, striped, and zoned, in many species ; 
 in fact, it is a matter of great difficulty to match speci- 
 mens out of two different nests, except they are prin- 
 cipally white, and then their relative size or shape often 
 destroys the appearance of uniformity. 
 
 If form, size, and colour are thus so little to be 
 depended upon, there is now only the "texture" on 
 which any reliance can be placed, and this, in the case 
 of imperfectly shelled specimens, is rough, dull, and 
 wanting in colour, when in a perfect egg it would be 
 smooth, polished, and bright coloured. This may bo 
 easily seen on comparing several specimens. Eggs of 
 birds of the hawk tribe are strong-shelled, generally 
 rounded, whitish, or blotched with dirty red, having a 
 more or less calcareous surface. Owls 5 eggs are rather 
 strong, mostly rounded, white, having a chalky appear- 
 ance, although the surface has not the outer layer as 
 in those of hawks. Those of the crow tribe have the 
 shell thinner, more elongate, colours green or blue 
 clouded with brown and gray, surface somewhat 
 polished, but irregularly smafaintli/ ivrinJcled all over. 
 Those of the roller, kingfisher, and woodpecker tribe, 
 thin, round, or pointed, white, finely polished, smooth 
 and transparent when recent. Eggs of the insect- 
 eaters, as butcher-birds, thrush tribe, warblers, &-c., 
 are so thin that the yolk may generally be seen through 
 the shell of any fresh specimen ; they are mostly ele- 
 gant in form, colours varied, of reddish, yellowish, 
 grey, brown, and blue in the shrikes and flycatchers 
 reddish, green, white, brown, blue, and yellowish in 
 the warblers, their surface slightly polished. In those 
 of the seed-eaters, as the larks, buntings, finches, and 
 sparrows, the shell is slightly stouter, more robust in 
 form, colours brown, grey, bluish, or greenish-white, 
 spotted with dull red, purple, or black ; more opaque 
 (excepting the linnet tribe), and rather more polished. 
 
22 PRESER VING BIRDS EGGS. 
 
 In the game birds the shells are tolerably stout, colour 
 white, yellow, or brown, marbled and clouded with red- 
 dish or blackish ; surface finely punctured, and much 
 polished, those of pigeons glossy white, having 
 similar characters of surface, but not so strongly de- 
 fined. The eggs of the plover tribe are more or less 
 pear-shaped, colours dull green, brown, or yellow, 
 blotched with brown or black, surface dull, but rather 
 smooth, and finely grained. The eggs of gulls and 
 terns are stronger, more rounded, colours dull red, 
 brown, blue, green, yellowish, or whitish, clouded and 
 spotted, or blotched with dusky, surface rough and 
 unpolished. Of the ducks and geese the shells are 
 strong, more elongate, colours uniform, white, or 
 pale tinted brown, greenish, or reddish-yellow, surface 
 dull, but very finely grained, appearing to be quite 
 smooth. In those of grebes and cormorants there is 
 a greater degree of strength in proportion to size ; 
 more elongate, somewhat pointed at both ends, colour 
 bluish-green, with a thick outer chalky covering, like 
 those of hawks, but not coloured. The diver's eggs 
 are stout, elongate, approaching the pear-shaped, dark 
 rich brown, blotched with black, surface wrinkled like 
 thoso of the crow tribe. Those of the guillemots are 
 very strong, generally pear-shaped, and elongate, 
 colour white, blue, or green, blotched and striped with 
 black and ash colour, surface -granular. Lastly, those 
 of petrels are thin, roundish-oval, white, or faintly zoned 
 with pale red, surface dull, but finely grained. 
 
 To preserve the shells of eggs, first take care to clear 
 them of their contents ; get a small, fine-pointed com- 
 mon syringe, such as is sold in toy- shops for a penny 
 or twopence, and inject the specimen with water until 
 it comes out quite clean. "When an egg has been 
 partly hatched or addled, the removal of the contents 
 generally includes that of the internal membrane or 
 
COL UR OF EGGS. 23 
 
 pellicle ; this makes the shell weaker. "When the spe- 
 cimens are quite clean internally, and have become 
 dry (which will be in a day or two), take the syringe 
 and inject them with a strong solution of isinglass 
 (with a little sugar-candy added to prevent its crack- 
 ing) ; blow this out again whilst warm. Let the shell 
 get dry, and then wash the outside with a soft wet 
 cloth to remove saline particles, dirt from the nest, 
 &c. This method varnishes the inside, and the first 
 specimen on which it has been tried was the before- 
 mentioned hedge-accentor's egg, which is to this day 
 as bright in colour as a fresh specimen. 
 
 Also in a pair of nightjar's eggs, of which species 
 the delicate grey tint is particularly evanescent, one 
 was injected in the manner described, and the other 
 was not ; in the first the grey is still perfectly defined, 
 in the other it has entirely disappeared. Eggs which 
 have lost their internal pellicle become strengthened 
 by this process, and those which have not lost their 
 colour greatly improved. 
 
J3LBD-CATCHING-. 
 
 MANY of our readers, no doubt, are desirous of 
 obtaining specimens upon which to try their pro- 
 ficiency in the art, in which it is to be hoped our 
 previous chapters have rendered them skilful ; and 
 with this view we now append the various methods 
 advised by the celebrated German naturalist, ex- 
 tracted from his very useful book. In giving these 
 instructions it must be understood that we are not 
 advocates for the destruction of the feathered tribe, 
 for we do not in any way sanction or countenance 
 wanton destruction of any living creature, merely 
 justifying the capture of a bird where its preservation 
 is desired either for purposes of study or practical 
 utility. Dr. Bechstein says : 
 
 " A good bird-catcher ought to know not only the 
 different modes of taking birds, but also all the calls 
 for attracting the different species and sexes : the call- 
 notes vary very much among house birds, according to 
 their passions and wants ; thus the common chaffinch, 
 when calling its companions, often repeats iacJc, lack ; 
 when expressing joy, fink, fink, which it also does 
 when angry, though louder and more quickly ; whilst 
 its cry of sorrow is treef, treef. 
 
 " The science of bird-catching consists in studying 
 these different languages well, and it will ensure 
 success. 
 
 " The first thing to know is the proper time to take 
 
TIME TO CA TCH BIRDS. 2$ 
 
 birds. For birds of passage, impelled by cold and want 
 of food to change their climate, nets should be spread 
 in spring and autumn; erratic birds, which change 
 their place merely in search of food, may be taken, 
 some in winter, some in spring, and others in autumn; 
 those birds which never quit their native place may 
 be taken at any season, but more easily in winter, when 
 they assemble in small flocks. 
 
 " Autumn is the time for taking birds in nets ; some, 
 attracted by a call- bird, or by food, come of their own 
 accord into the trap ; others, as the different species 
 of larks, must be driven to the net : but spring is the 
 best season for employing the decoy, or call-birds, 
 concealed in cages, and also for catching the northern 
 birds on their return from the southern countries to 
 their own. It is the best time for observing the dif- 
 ferent sexes of these birds, for the males always arrive 
 some days, or even a whole week, sooner than the 
 females ; hence it happens that at first the bird-catchers 
 take only the former, while the latter are caught after- 
 wards. March and April are the best months for this 
 sport, which should always be made in the morning 
 from the break of day till nine o'clock, as afterwards 
 the birds are too much engaged seeking their food to 
 listen to the call of the decoy birds. 
 
 " As most of the house birds of the first class are 
 caught in the net, I shall describe the simple manner 
 in which it is done. Some rather strong branches of 
 oak and beech are chosen with their leaves on ; about 
 the space of a foot is cleared of leaves, a foot and a 
 half from the top of the branches, and in this space 
 notches are made for fixing lime twigs: the bush, when 
 thus prepared, must be placed on an eminence in the 
 most frequented part of the birds' path, for birds of 
 passage have fixed roads which they always follow, 
 and in which numbers may be seen, whilst about four 
 
26 BIRD- CA TCH1NG. 
 
 hundred paces distant not one can be met with. These 
 tracks generally follow the mountains which border on 
 valleys. It is on these mountains then that the decoy 
 bush must be placed ; it must then be garnished with 
 lime twigs, placed in an inclined position, and beneath 
 on the ground must be put the decoy birds, covering 
 their cages with brandies of fir or any other tree, so 
 that the birds cannot see one another, as that would 
 prevent the birds of passage from stopping, and the 
 others from calling. 
 
 " Decoy birds taken wild are prefered to those reared 
 from the nest, for these never know the call-note well, 
 or at least do not repeat it often enough. 
 
 " One of the best modes of catching is by what is 
 called the water-irap; all kinds of birds may be caught 
 by it, and there is always a choice. This sport is very 
 agreeable in the hot summer days, for you have only 
 to sit quietly under the thick shade of the foliage by 
 the side of a running stream. A net of three, four, or 
 six feet long, and three or four wide, according to the 
 size of the place, must be spread over a trench made 
 on purpose to receive the water. Some sticks of about 
 an inch thick must be put into the trench level with 
 the water, to which hoops are fixed to prevent the net 
 from getting wet by falling into the water ; the rest of 
 this little canal must be covered with branches. If the 
 place be well chosen it will be surrounded during the 
 day with numbers of different birds. This sport may 
 be carried on from the 24th of July till October, from 
 the rising to the setting of the sun. 
 
 " When the ivater-trap can be set near a forest, in 
 a grove of pines and firs, near quickset hedges and 
 gardens, or in the middle of a meadow, wood or field 
 birds may be caught at the same time. For the sake 
 of convenience, small cages are made which can be 
 folded up and put into the pocket. Thej- only serve, 
 
THE BLACKBIRD. 27 
 
 however, for the tamest kinds of birds, such as gold- 
 finches, siskins, and linnets ; those which are very wild 
 and violent, as chaffinches and larks, should be put 
 into a small bag made of linen, the bottom of which 
 must be lined with felt. When brought to the house 
 the violent species must be immediately put into a 
 dark place, and their cages covered with branches or 
 anything else, that they may not injure themselves, or 
 spoil their plumage. A little attention to the birds' 
 actions in such cases will point out what is best to be 
 done, for amongst birds of the same species there is 
 nothing regular in this respect." 
 
 Blackbird. Timid and distrustful, the blackbird 
 seldom enters the area or barn-floor trap, but it is 
 easily caught in the winter with a noose or springe, 
 by using service berries for a bait. It sometimes 
 falls into the large traps set for tits, when the berries 
 are spread over the bottom ; limed twigs put with the 
 berries in a place cleared from the snow, will catch 
 many also ; it also goes to the water trap, but gene- 
 rally at nightfall. 
 
 Blackcap. Every taste but that of the palate must 
 be destroyed if this charming bird is caught for the 
 table. Besides, it is by no means numerous ; but if 
 it is desired as an ornament to the house, snares 
 baited with currants must be laid for it in July and 
 August, the greatest care being taken to save the feet, 
 which are very likely to be broken. Patience is very 
 necessary in order to succeed, for it is a very suspi- 
 cious bird, approaching slowly, and falling into the 
 snare only when pressed by hunger. The same sus- 
 picious disposition causes it to repair with repugnance 
 to the water-trap, though in other situations it de- 
 lights in water, and often bathes. If it perceives 
 anything unusual it will remain for hours without 
 
28 BIRD- CA TCH1NG. 
 
 approaching, and will pass twenty times by currants 
 which are hung up as a bait without touching them, 
 though very greedy of this food ; but if it sees another 
 bird bathe, or drink, it takes courage, and soon falls 
 into the trap. The young, before moulting, still 
 foolish and inexperienced, are more careless, and may 
 be taken in great numbers in autumn; and in the 
 spring they are as easy to catch as the nightingale, 
 by means of a net or limed twigs, in a place cleared 
 from moss and turf, and baited with meal worms and 
 ants' eggs. 
 
 Bullfinch. There are few birds so easily attracted 
 by the decoy bird as bullfinches. They may also be 
 taken by any of the usual means. In winter numbers 
 may be caught by a noose, by hanging to it such 
 berries as the bird likes ; in spring and autumn they 
 may be caught in the area or barn-floor trap ; and 
 provided they see berries there, the decoy bird is not 
 wanted ; it is sufficient if one imitates their soft cry 
 of "tzii, tui" in the hut. 
 
 Bunting i Corn. In autumn these birds may be 
 taken in an area with a decoy bird ; in winter, before 
 the barn door, with birdlime or a clapper ; in the 
 spring with a bird-call. 
 
 Bunting, Foolish. These birds come without diffi- 
 culty at the call of the yellowhammer, and enter into 
 every kind of snare so heedlessly, that they have 
 thence been given the name of foolish bunting. 
 
 Bunting, Red. In autumn they enter the area or 
 decoy with the chaffinch ; in spring, when there is 
 snow, they approach the barns and dunghills, and 
 there, as well as in open places in the fields and on 
 the hedges, they are very easily taken with a net or 
 birdlime. 
 
THE B UTCHER BIRD. 29 
 
 Butclier Bird. Although it flies very swiftly when 
 pursuing its prey, it may easily be taken if a nest of 
 young birds, crying from hunger, be suspended to 
 some lime twigs. In autumn and winter, it will 
 sometimes dart on birds in cages which are outside 
 the window. It may then be easily caught, if the cage 
 be put into a sort of box, having the lid so placed that 
 the bird by the least touch would cause it to fall 
 upon itself. These means must be employed by those 
 who wish to possess birds which they can let go and 
 come at will. 
 
 Carrion Grow. The easiest and most usual method 
 is with paper cones, at the bottom of which is put a 
 bit of meat, and birdlime on the inner edges. It 
 may also be caught with lime twigs placed in the 
 yard, or before the house, on horse-dung and among 
 scattered grain. 
 
 Chaffinch. "With good baits the chaffinch may easily 
 be drawn within the area or decoy from Michaelmas 
 to Martinmas, and in spring throughout March. 
 Those that remain the winter, or return early in the 
 year, may be taken in a net baited with oats. 
 
 Bird-catchers use in spring lures and lime twigs 
 and the sport lasts as long as the time of flight, which 
 begins at daybreak and ends at nine o'clock. These 
 birds employ the rest n f the day in seeking food in 
 the fields, in resting, and singing. In the same man- 
 ner are taken linnets, goldfinches, siskins, yellowham- 
 mers, and bullfinches. 
 
 Some make use of the excessive jealousy of the 
 males to procure those whose song is very superior. 
 As soon as a bird-catcher who likes this way discovers 
 a fine songster wild, he immediately seeks another 
 male that is in the habit of often repeating its natural 
 cry, fink, Jink, ties his wings, and fastens to his tail a 
 
30 BIRD-CA TC11ING. 
 
 little forked stick, half a finger long, well covered 
 with birdlime; thus prepared, he fastens him under 
 the tree on which the one he is watching is perched ; 
 this no sooner sees and hears the false rival than he 
 becomes enraged, pounces on him like a bird of prey, 
 and is caught with the birdlime ; his attack is often, 
 so violent that sometimes the bird of call is killed by 
 the stroke of its adversary. The following is a surer 
 method: A soft, narrow leather band is fastened 
 round a male, to which is attached a string a foot 
 long, fastened by a peg, which allows it but a short 
 space to range. This bird, as we have aready said, is 
 called, in bird-catchers' language, a percher. A circle 
 of birdlime is made just beyond its reach, and a cage 
 with a chaffinch, accustomed to sing either in the 
 shade or exposed, is placed under a neighbouring 
 bush ; as soon as this last begins his song, which 
 should be a natural one, not any learned in confine- 
 ment, the chaffinch that is to be procured darts from 
 the tree like an arrow on the percher, which it mis- 
 takes for the songster, and remains fixed by the bird- 
 lime. This new prisoner will sing the same year if it 
 is caught before Whitsuntide ; if after, it will never 
 sing, but will die, evidently from grief at being sepa- 
 rated from its female and young ones. A bird-catcher, 
 cruel as he is stupid, who, without the least reflection, 
 only thinks of gratifying his ridiculous passion for 
 bird-catching, may in an hour deprive ten or twelve 
 females of their beloved companions, their protectors, 
 and numerous young ones of their father, purveyor, 
 and support; such thoughtless cruelty is, alas ! only 
 too common. As soon as the young chaffinches have 
 left the nest, the bird-catchers are very active in dis- 
 covering the places where at noon they are accus- 
 tomed to drink ; there they set perches covered with 
 birdlime, and by this means many of these little un- 
 wary creatures are taken. 
 
THE CROSSBILL. 31 
 
 Crosslill. "With the decoy birds nothing is easier 
 than to take the crossbills in the autumn and spring; 
 one large rod, covered with strong birdlime, is all that 
 is necessary. It must be put in a glade in the wood 
 which these birds frequent, with the decoy bird by 
 the side ; this, by its continual cry, will soon attract 
 them. InThuringia the people put nooses and spring 
 traps on the top of some of the highest pines, and 
 there hang the cage of the decoy bird ; as soon as one 
 crossbill has settled, the others follow ; so that as 
 many birds are taken as there are traps set, particu- 
 larly if the stick of the spring traps be placed so that 
 the bird must perch on it. 
 
 Dipper. Each pair has a chosen spot, which it sel- 
 dom leaves ; and they are generally seen there cither 
 on a trough, a stone, dike, or a bush growing near; 
 by fixing close to these places limed twigs, to which 
 are fastened worms, which writhe about and attract 
 attention, it is very easy to catch them. 
 
 DunnocJc, or Hedge Sparrow. This is very easy at 
 their return in the spring. As soon as they appear 
 in the hedges, where they soon discover themselves 
 by the cry " issri" a little place near, where the earth 
 is bare, must be found ; after having placed limed 
 twigs, and thrown among them earth or meal worms 
 for a bait, the dunnock is gently driven towards them 
 without alarming him ; as soon as he perceives the 
 worms he darts upon them and falls into the snare. 
 In the autumn they may be caught in the area and 
 with a noose ; in winter in the white-throat's trap ; 
 but they resort in the greatest numbers to the water 
 trap, not so much for the sake of bathing, as to seek 
 p or dead insects or decayed roots. 
 
 Fluslier. As soon as this bird arrives in May, the 
 
 c 
 
32 BIRD-CATCHING. 
 
 bushes on winch it most frequently perches must be 
 observed : these are very few, and on them the lime 
 twigs must be placed ; it is often entrapped within 
 a quarter of an hour. Success is more certain if a 
 beetle, maybug, or breeze-fly be fastened near the lime 
 twigs with horsehair, by two feet, so that it can move 
 its wings. As soon as the bird is stuck in the bird- 
 lime it is necessary when taking it to avoid its beak, as 
 it pecks very hard. 
 
 Goldfinch. In spring these birds are taken on a 
 lure bush, with a decoy bird of their own species. 
 They will also enter the area or barn-floor trap, with 
 chaffinches, if bundles of thistles are placed there ; 
 but it is not without difficulty, for they are very 
 watchful to avoid nets and lime twigs. Tn the winter, 
 by building up bundles of thistles, and placing snares 
 and traps on them, several may be caught ; but in 
 autumn and spring lime twigs should be placed on 
 them in preference. It is a still better plan to place 
 bundles of thistles in a tree stuck about with lime 
 twigs. 
 
 Green Bird. If the decoy bird be a good one, the 
 green bird may be easily caught in the area or barn- 
 floor trap, even in December. In the spring it may 
 be taken with birdlime on the lure bush, when a linnet 
 will do for the songstress. 
 
 Hawfinch. The haste with which these birds come 
 on hearing the call makes it very easy to catch them 
 in the net, by throwing berries or hemp seed on the 
 trap. In autumn and winter they may be taken 
 by the noose, with service berries ; in spring they 
 may be caught by placing lime twigs on the nest. 
 
 Jay. Should any one wish to catch these birds, he 
 must seek in autumn for- a lonely tree, about five or 
 six paces from the other trees of the wood, which the 
 
THE JAY. 33 
 
 birds frequent most ; on it lime twigs must be placed. 
 In order to effect this, most of the branches are cut 
 off in such a manner as to form a kind of spiral stair- 
 case, commencing about ten or twelve feet from the 
 ground, and extending to within six of the top. After 
 having shortened and reduced the branches to five or 
 six spans in length, the lime twigs are fixed to them ; 
 under the tree must be placed a hut, made of green 
 branches, large enough to contain as many persons as 
 wish to conceal themselves. On the top of this hut 
 is placed a live owl, or one made of clay ; even the skin 
 of a hare, arranged so that it may be moved, will 
 suffice. Nothing is now wanted to attract the jays 
 but a bird-call, which is made of a little stick with a 
 notch cut in it and a little piece of the bark of the 
 cherry-tree inserted, another bit serving for a cover. 
 On this instrument the voice of the owl, the great 
 enemy of the jays, may easily be imitated ; and as soon 
 as they hear it they come from all sides, while their 
 cries must be repeated by the people in the hut, which 
 makes them assemble in still greater numbers. They 
 are soon entangled in the birdlime, and fall pell mell 
 into the hut, their weight easily dragging them through 
 the slight covering. Many other birds also collect on 
 hearing the deceitful call, and, wishing to assist their 
 brethren, are themselves entrapped. Thus, in a few 
 hours, many jays and a great number of other birds 
 may be caught, such as magpies, thrushes/woodpeckers, 
 redbreasts, and tits. Twilight is the best time for 
 this sport. 
 
 In the month of July jays may also be taken in the 
 water-trap ', where young ones, with their tails only 
 half grown, are most frequently caught ; these may 
 be taught and tamed. 
 
 Kestrel. Lime twigs placed over the nest W-li 
 
34 BIRD- CA TCHING. 
 
 easily secure the old ones when they come to feed their 
 young ; or a bird of prey's basket, with a lark or 
 mouse put in it as a lure, may be placed where these 
 birds are most frequently seen. This machine is 
 raised on four stakes, and somewhat resembles a com- 
 mon safe, having a lower shelf as large as a moderate- 
 sized table, with four upright posts, to which are 
 fastened the partitions of net or wire ; on the top and 
 sides are fixed two iron rods ; on these, by means of 
 rings, there runs a net which covers the whole. 
 
 Kingfisher. When the place which one of these 
 birds frequent most, and which is generally near an 
 eddy in the water, is well known, a stake must be 
 iked to which the snare, called a springe, can be fast- 
 ened; by this means the bird maybe easily taken. 
 Lime twigs may also be put on a bush or stake near 
 the water's edge, provided it does not hang so much 
 over the water as to risk the bird's falling into it when 
 fixed by the lime. 
 
 Linnet. These birds are distrustful and suspicious, 
 and, notwithstanding decoys and perching birds, it is 
 very difficult to entice them within the decoy or area, 
 and never many together. In the spring, by means of 
 a good decoy bird, a few may be taken on a decoy 
 bush. In the autumn, by fastening snares or lime 
 twigs on the stalks of lettuces, of the seeds of which 
 the linnets are very fond, several maybe taken. Our 
 shepherds turn and support the cribs, used to feed 
 the sheep from, in such a manner that the linnets, 
 coming to gather the grains of salt, easily overturn 
 them on themselves. 
 
 Missel Thrush. These birds are taken, in autumn 
 with nets and snares, with berries for the bait, and 
 they are caught in great numbers. They may also be 
 
THE NIGHTINGALE. 35 
 
 taken in February, by placing under the trees on 
 which the mistletoe grows, perches with limed twigs. 
 They may also be caught in the water- traps at sunset. 
 Those which are yellowish under the body, being males, 
 are chosen for confinement. During the first days of 
 captivity they are savage, sulky, and often refuse to 
 eat, so that many perish in this way ; those Avhich 
 are saved soon repay the trouble by their songs and 
 familiarity. 
 
 Nightingale. Nothing is easier than to catch a 
 nightingale in the season of pairing. If a little furrow, 
 smooth at the bottom, is dug in a dark soil, and some 
 meal-worms or ants' eggs are thrown into it, he will 
 immediately fly to these delicacies. By putting also 
 in the same place limed twigs, or a small net which 
 may be easily dropped, he will soon be caught ; it is 
 even sufficient to fix over the furrow a bit of wood 
 supported by a stick, which will fall as soon as the bird 
 perches upon it. He is so unsuspicious that he ob- 
 serves the snare being laid, and then foolishly falls 
 into it, when the bird-catcher has moved only a few 
 steps from it ; he will even allow himself to be led to 
 it when at a little distance, if in a gentle manner. A. 
 bird-catcher may thus, in a few hours, depopulate a 
 whole district of these delightful songsters. If, how- 
 ever, this is feared, there is a means of baffling his in- 
 tentions, by anticipating him, and catching the night- 
 ingale we wish to preserve in our neighbourhood, 
 either by a limed twig or in a net, and letting him go 
 again. This experiment will prevent his falling so 
 readily into the snare in future. In the greater part 
 of Germany, indeed, it is forbidden, under a very heavy 
 penalty, to catch nightingales. Another mode of 
 taking them is by nooses and springes, and suspending 
 for a bait, instead of berries, live meal-worms ; but 
 
36 BIRD- CA TCHING. 
 
 there is one disadvantage attending it, while strug- 
 gling the bird almost always injures his feet, especially 
 in springes. 
 
 Nuthatch. As it has the same taste for hemp-seed 
 and oats as the tits, it may often be caught in the 
 same snare ; it may also be taken in the area or barn- 
 floor trap. 
 
 Ortolan. In spring these birds are easily attracted 
 to a decoy bush, by a female of their own species, or 
 a yellowhammer. In August a turfy place should be 
 chosen near brambles, to form a small area, as a decoy, 
 like that made for chaffinches. It must be surrounded 
 with a low hedge, with some oat-ears fastened to it. 
 About the area should be placed one or several birds 
 of call, especially a perching bird (that is to say, a 
 bird of the same species, with a band of soft leather 
 round it, and confined by a small string, fastened to a 
 peg-stick in the ground, which prevents its going be- 
 yond the prescribed limits. Here it should be given 
 plenty of food and water, in order that the birds to be 
 caught may be the more easily attracted within the 
 area, from seeing one of their own species in a place 
 of abundance. This kind of decoy bird is often more 
 necessary than any other. 
 
 Owl. "When the place of its retreat during the day 
 is discovered, it cannot fail to be taken if a net in the 
 form of a bag or sack be placed over the mouth of the 
 hole, for the bird will by this means entrap itself when 
 endeavouring to come out for the evening. 
 
 Oxeye or Greater Tit. The chase after tits is, 
 according to bird-catchers, one of the most agreeable, 
 and is pursued in many ways ; but I shall confine 
 myself to two or three of the surest methods, specify- 
 
THE GREATER TIT. 37 
 
 mg the best for taking those birds that are for the 
 house. 
 
 In autumn and spring, the bird-catcher should go 
 into an orchard, or any other place much frequented 
 by oxeyes, carrying one with him as a decoy ; this must 
 be placed on the ground in a small square cage, and 
 some sticks, with lime twigs fastened to them, fixed 
 obliquely around it. The tits, attracted by curiosity, 
 or the desire of approaching one of their own species 
 that calls them, quickly descend, and are caught in the 
 lime twigs. A whistle made of the bone of a goose's 
 leg succeeds still better ; with this instrument all the 
 tits in the neighbourhood are quickly assembled ; for 
 the tone being stronger than the natural call, it is 
 heard farther ; if there are but few of these birds near, 
 they are sure to be all caught. 
 
 They are easily attracted, in winter, to a trap, by 
 the kernels of nuts, lard, and oats. This trap should 
 be placed in a garden, with a little oat straw fastened 
 under in such a way that it may be seen at a distance, 
 as the tits are instantly attracted thereby. It is a 
 small box a foot in length, and eighteen inches in 
 height and width, the sides of which, when not made 
 of small boards painted green, are formed of small 
 elder sticks, tied or screwed to the four corner sticks ; 
 in this case only two small boards are required, one 
 for the bottom, the other for the cover, which must be 
 fastened on with packthread, and turn as with hinges; 
 from the middle of the bottom rises a peg supporting 
 a cross stick, with a nut kernel at one end, and a little 
 lard at the other ; this cross stick supports a small 
 perpendicular one, which keeps the cover open three 
 or four inches. When a tit hops on the cross stick 
 and begins pecking the nut or lard, the cover falls, and 
 the bird ia caught. 
 
 The oxeye, like the other tits, assembles in numbers 
 
38 BIRD- CA TCHING. 
 
 at the water trap, commonly from seven to nine in the 
 morning, r nd from four to five in the evening. 
 
 In autumn these birds are taken in nooses and 
 common bird-traps, baited with berries, but the snare 
 must be of horsehair, for if of thread, the bird, as 
 soon as it feels itself caught, will try to bite through 
 it, as mice do. 
 
 Quail. There are several different methods of 
 taking quails, but I shall only mention the commonest 
 and easiest. The male birds are generally caught in 
 a net called a quail-net, by means of a call which 
 imitates the cry of the female in the breeding season ; 
 it is the way adopted by bird-catchers in the spring, 
 when they wish to take a male that sings in a superior 
 manner, that is, which repeats a dozen times following 
 the syllables " pieveroie." If the male has not yet 
 met with a mate, and if he has not been rendered 
 suspicious by some unskilful bird-catcher, he will run 
 eagerly into the snare. The most important thing is 
 to have a good call ; they may be had cheap of turners 
 at Nuremberg, who make them of leather, with a pipe 
 turned from the bone of a cat or hare, or the leg of a 
 stork ; but they may easily be made by anybody. 
 The first thing necessary is a piece of calf-skin, one 
 foot in length, and four inches in breadth, the sides 
 must be sewed together within two inches of the end, 
 and the bottom filled with a piece of wood an inch and 
 a half in length, and rings composed of thick leather, 
 the diameter of the interior opening not exceeding an 
 inch and a half, are pushed into the sewed cylinder, 
 and kept about a quarter of an inch apart ; the whole 
 may afterwards be pressed close together, making the 
 rings touch each other ; then a tube made of the bone 
 of a goose or hare, and filled at the end like a common 
 whistle, is fastened to the part of the cylinder left 
 
THE QUAJL. 39 
 
 unsewed ; the interior is then stopped with wax near 
 the notch on the side of the leather, and a hole pierced 
 through it with a knitting-needle ; the upper part of 
 the tube must also be stopped with wax, and lastly, 
 the lower part, which is thus become a kind of whistle, 
 is very firmly tied to the unsewn part of the cylinder. 
 "When the call is to be used, the lower end must be 
 held firmly in one hand, and the leather cylinder 
 worked up and down with the other, making the rings 
 approach and separate, which produces the notes of 
 the female, " peuk, peuk, pupil" 
 
 As soon as the male quail is heard that you wish to 
 procure, you must advance softly to within fifty paces 
 of his station, and place the trap amongst the wheat 
 in such a position as will suffer it to fall level with 
 the ground, to prevent the bird's passing under and 
 escaping. Then retire a few steps back, when the 
 quail will soon utter its song, to which reply with t\vo 
 or three notes, that when the quail is silent he may 
 only hear one or two, from the call exactly resembling 
 the cry of the female. If this is not done with care, 
 the bird will suspect treachery, and will either retire 
 or remain silent, and never after fall into such a snare ; 
 but if skilfully done, it is surprising to see how the 
 bird proceeds directly to the call : if by chance he miss 
 the trap, he will go so near as to be within reach of 
 the hand ; in this case it is best to retire softly to the 
 other side of the trap and repeat the call, which will 
 again attract it. There are some quails that know 
 how to avoid the net, particularly if placed in too open 
 and exposed a place. In this case it is safest to turn 
 it in a corner at both ends, and thus when it tries to 
 turn it becomes entangled. 
 
 It is proper to notice, that in damp weather, or 
 when it rains, the quail does not run, but flies im- 
 mediately towards the call. It does this also in dewy 
 
4 o BIRD- CA TCHING. 
 
 mornings and evenings ; dry days should therefore be 
 chosen for this chase. In the pairing season, two, 
 three, or even four quails may be taken at the same 
 place. 
 
 If no male is heard in the field, the call of the female 
 must be well imitated on a larger and more powerful 
 bird-call, and, if any males are within hearing, they 
 will not fail to answer ; the person must then advance 
 quickly, placing the net so as to stop their road, and 
 repeat the call. 
 
 When a female is to be caught, it is best to employ 
 a common net, such as is used to take quails in autumn ; 
 but this chase should be deferred till towards the end 
 of harvest, when most of the corn is cut, and only a 
 few pieces left standing, which serve to harbour 
 numbers of these birds. Several nets are used at once, 
 as many as six or eight ; some of them are placed across 
 the field of corn, and the others parallel to them at 
 the extremity of the same field : this being done, the 
 party go to the opposite side and begin to drive the 
 quails into the nets in the middle of the field by means 
 of a packthread stretched across the corn, having little 
 bells suspended to it by threads, so as almost to touch 
 the ground, two persons holding it, and as they ad- 
 vance shaking it from time to time. As soon as the 
 prisoners are secured, the march is continued towards 
 the nets at the end of the field ; and in this manner 
 great numbers of quails, both male and female, are 
 procured either for the house or for the table. 
 
 Redbreast. In spring, when the redbreasts frequent 
 the hedges and bushes, sticks are passed transversely 
 through them, on which limed twigs are fastened, 
 then two persons gently beat the hedge or bush to 
 drive the birds towards the twigs, where they are soon 
 caught, for redbreasts have the habit of perching on 
 
THE REDBREAST. 41 
 
 all the little low projecting branches, in order that 
 they may discover earth-worms. This sort of red- 
 breast chase is very common in Thuringia, where 
 many persons keep them. Limed twigs may also be 
 put in a bare place with earth- or meal-worms, just as 
 for the dunnock. The small nightingale net and the 
 whitethroat trap catch many. They are also caught 
 at the water- trap; but the greatest number are caught 
 in autumn with the noose, baited with elderberries, 
 which are at that season their favorite food. If they 
 are caught for the room (and it is a pity to hunt so 
 pretty a bird for the table), it is necessary, in order 
 to preserve their feet, to cover the springes with felt 
 or cork. 
 
 Eedpole. In the spring and autumn the lesser red- 
 poles may be taken in flocks in the area or barn -floor 
 trap, with a decoy of their own species, or even with 
 a siskin. Many may also be caught with such a decoy 
 on a decoy bush. They are so silly, or so confiding, 
 that they will even allow themselves to be taken close 
 by the bird-catcher, who is collecting their entrapped 
 companions. This stupidity, or simplicity, is common 
 in all birds that come from the more remote northern 
 parts. Brought up far from man, and out of reach of 
 his pursuit, they know not that fear and distrust which 
 is felt by those that inhabit populous countries. 
 
 Redstart. Sticks covered with birdlime should be 
 placed across the hedges frequented by these birds; 
 they must then be driven gently towards them. They 
 are also attracted under nets, and amongst limed twigs 
 baited with meal-worms. In autumn they may be 
 taken in nooses, by suspending elderberries near them, 
 either in orchards or thickets. Those intended for the 
 house should be taken in bird-traps or springes, taking 
 care that the wooden part be covered with felt or 
 
42 BIRD- CA TCH1NG. 
 
 cork, to prevent the legs being broken. The young 
 ones of the first year are the easiest to preserve. 
 They also go to the water-trap without difficulty. 
 
 Heed Warbler. These birds are sometimes caught 
 by placing lime twigs on a place cleared of the turf, 
 and throwing meal-worms there. 
 
 Shrike, Little. "When the particular brambles and 
 branches have been observed, on whicli this bird 
 watches for its prey, it is not difficult to catch it ; for 
 notwithstanding its great quickness, it is not the less 
 imprudent, for it allows itself to be caught in the 
 birdlime in the most stupid manner. 
 
 Siskin. With good traps and nets made for this 
 purpose, several dozen of these birds may be taken 
 at once in the winter. They also collect in numbers, 
 in the spring, on the decoy bush, and they are so fear- 
 less, that in the villages a person, who has his house 
 situated near a stream bordered with alders, need 
 only place a siskin in the window, near a stick covered 
 with birdlime, and he may catch as many as he wishes. 
 I have caught some at my window in a cage strewed 
 with hemp- and poppy-seed, by letting the door fall by 
 means of a string, when the birds had entered, one of 
 the decoy birds in my room serving to attract them. 
 When the place where they drink at noon is dis- 
 covered amongst the alders, numbers may be caught 
 by merely laying across the stream some branches 
 covered with birdlime. 
 
 Skylark. It would take too long a time to describe 
 all the modes of catching larks which are in use. It 
 is enough to say that with day and night nets, known 
 by the name of lark nets, so large a nufiiber of these 
 birds are taken alive in the open country, that it is 
 easy to have a choice of both males and females. 
 
THE SKYLARK. 43 
 
 This lark snaring is accomplished by placing a con- 
 siderable number of nets perpendicularly like walls, 
 which are called day nets, towards which, in the dusk, 
 the birds are forced by means of a long rope, which is 
 drawn along the ground, and drives them forward ; in 
 the night a square net, called a night net, is carried to 
 a spot where it is known that many larks are collected 
 in the stubble, and there they are covered just when 
 they begin to flutter. 
 
 If, in the spring, it is wished to procure a good 
 singing male for some are better than others a lark 
 whose wings are tied, and with a little forked lime 
 twig fixed to its back, must be carried to the place 
 where such a bird is to be found. As soon as it is let 
 loose, and the desired male has perceived it from high 
 in the air, he will fall upon it like an arrow and attack 
 it ; but soon, the dupe of his jealousy, he will find 
 himself caught by the lime. 
 
 Sparrow. Sparrows are so cunning that it is diffi- 
 cult to attract them within the net or on lime twigs. 
 They may be caught in numbers, however, on the 
 brambles in a field where sheep are kept by sticking 
 plenty of birdlime about them. They may be taken 
 also by placing a net before those that have retired to 
 trees and under the tiles to sleep for the night. 
 
 Starling. It is principally in autumn, and in places 
 filled with reeds, that the bird-catchers take great 
 numbers of starlings in nets prepared for the purpose. 
 They may also be procured by means of an osier fish- 
 net, placed among the reeds, which they frequent in 
 the evening, and baited with cherries. Though this 
 means is limited, as many as a hundred have been 
 procured by it in one night. 
 
 Tit, Bearded or Reed. There is much difficulty in 
 
44 BIRD- CA TCH1NG. 
 
 this. Fishermen who know the places frequented by 
 this species place limed twigs on the reeds, and try 
 gently to drive them towards one side, and sometimes 
 catch a few. 
 
 Tit, Blue Tit, or Tom Tit. They may be caught in 
 the same way as the oxeye. 
 
 Tit, Cole. Less timid and distrustful than the ox- 
 eye, this species may be caught with greater ease. A 
 limed twig fastened to a pole is often sufficient, with 
 which you approach the tree on which the bird is, and, 
 touching it with the twig, it becomes your prisoner. 
 
 Titlark. To take the bird from its nest by a limed 
 twig, and thus destroy the young family by hunger 
 and misery, is a cruelty which none but a harsh in- 
 sensible amateur could resolve upon. I prefer using 
 the night net in autumn. This bird is also caught in 
 the water- trap in August and September. 
 
 Thrush. Of all the birds for which snares are laid 
 those for the thrush are most successful. A perch 
 with a limed twig is the best method for catching a 
 fine-toned male. In September and October these 
 birds may also be caught in the water-traps, where 
 they repair at sunrise and sunset, and sometimes so 
 late that they cannot be seen, and the ear is the only 
 guide. "When they enter the water haste must be 
 avoided, because they like to bathe in company, and 
 assemble sometimes to the number of ten or twelve at 
 once, by means of a particular call. The first which 
 finds a convenient stream, and wishes to go to it, cries 
 in a tone of surprise or joy, " siJc, sik, siTc, siki, tsac, 
 tsaCj tsac;" immediately all in the neighbourhood 
 reply together, and repair to the place : tjiey enter the 
 bath, however, with much circumspection, and seldom 
 venture till they have seen a redbreast bathe without 
 
THE WHINCHAT. 45 
 
 danger ; but the first which ventures is soon followed 
 by the others, which be^in to quarrel if the place is 
 not large enough for all the bathers. In order to 
 attract them it is a good plan to have a tame bird 
 running and fluttering on the banks of the stream. 
 
 Wagtail. If there is snow on the ground on their 
 return in March, it is only necessary to clear a place 
 (below the window will do), and scatter meal-worms 
 amongst limed twigs, or place these on stones or wood 
 where the birds assemble, or even fasten a meal-worm 
 to a limed twig, loosely stuck in the earth, and you 
 may soon catch a wagtail. 
 
 Wheatear. Limed twigs must be placed on the 
 stones or stakes where these birds rest, or even on 
 sticks fixed in the ground for the purpose, and they 
 must be driven gently towards the snares. 
 
 Whinchat. In spring, when some of these birds are 
 seen in a field or meadow, sticks, furnished with limed 
 twigs, should be stuck there, and the birds gently 
 driven to that side, to induce them to settle, which 
 they will soon do. In summer, the noose, spring-trap, 
 and limed twigs, must be employed in the following 
 manner : If the noose is used, a stake must be set 
 up, about three feet high, slit at the top to put in 
 crossways a stick three inches long, and the noose is 
 placed an inch and a half above, to be of the height of 
 the bird's breast when it is perched on the stick. 
 
 If limed twigs are used, forked switches three feet 
 long should be employed ; the fork, four inches in 
 length, must be cohered with birdlime. Spring-traps 
 or gins must be suspended to small stakes or cabbage- 
 stalks. As soon as a sufficient number of these spring- 
 traps, snares, and limed twigs are prepared, they must 
 be carried to a cabbage-garden, when a number of 
 these wlmichats has been seen : there fix the stakes in 
 
46 BIRD-CATCHING. 
 
 cross lines, two or three paces apart ; then go to the 
 end of the garden and drive the birds gently towards 
 the snares; they jump from one cabbage-stalk to 
 another till they approach the stakes ; then you stop, 
 and in a short time the birds are caught one after 
 another. When they are caught, the prisoners must 
 be taken out and the snares arranged again ; then go 
 to the other end and again drive the birds forward as 
 before, and thus continue till the sport is over. 
 
 WJiite-tliroat. The easiest way is to place limed 
 twigs on the nest, but this is repugnant to persons not 
 cruel. Towards the end of summer spring-traps may 
 be set, with elderberries and gooseberries hung near 
 them. It is difficult to take these birds at the water- 
 trap. 
 
 Woodcliat.X. cruel method, but the surest, is to 
 place birdlime on its nest, this being the most wary 
 species of shrike ; but, as it bathes freely, it may be 
 taken about the middle of the day at its washing-place, 
 if near hedges. It is often found drowned in large 
 ponds. 
 
 Woodlarlc. The woodlark may be caught on the 
 nest by means of limed twigs ; but as it is very cruel 
 to separate a pair, and thus to destroy a whole family, 
 it is better to wait till autumn, and to use the night 
 net. They may be caught early in the spring, when 
 there is snow on the ground, by placing limed twigs 
 or nets in cleared places. This is the best method of 
 catching them. It is true that this plan will not suc- 
 ceed in all years ; but another may be substituted, 
 if we have a decoy woodlark, by placing it under a 
 folding net, in a field frequented by a night of this 
 species, \vhich will not fail to join it. The same means 
 also may be used as with the chaffincn, namely, by 
 
THE WREN. 47 
 
 tying the wings of a woodlark with a limed twig on 
 his back, and letting him run to the place where there 
 is a male of the same species. By this means the 
 bird-fancier may obtain whatever kind of singer he 
 prefers. 
 
 Wren. If in winter, a white-throat trap is set in a 
 place much frequented by these birds, and meal-worms 
 scattered within and around it. In this the wrens 
 will surely be caught. They may be entrapped in 
 autumn with spring-traps and springes, by hanging 
 elderberries before ; but after every precaution they 
 generally break their legs. 
 
 Wren, Gold-crested. As they are not fearful, they 
 may easily be caught by gently approaching the tree 
 where one is perched, and merely striking it with a 
 limed twig fastened to a pole long enough to reach it. 
 It may be brought down also with water, in the manner 
 adopted by M. Le Vaillant; that is, by first putting 
 into a gun the common charge of powder, then a wad- 
 ding of silk, then, as soon as the bird is within reach, 
 two spoonfuls of water are poured in and covered with 
 a second wadding of silk, which must not be rammed 
 down hard, lest the water should reach the powder 
 below. This load, discharged at the distance of twenty 
 paces, is capable of wetting the bird so completely 
 that it may be taken by the hand ; but if there are 
 hedges in the neighbourhood, or if a stronger bird be 
 fired at (a chaffinch, for instance), it may easily 
 escape. 
 
 Many gold-crested wrens may be caught by means 
 of a hut set for any small birds, when the way to 
 attract them is known. They come in great numbers 
 to the water-trap, and by their often repeated call of 
 tzitt, tzitt, give notice of sunset and the arrival of 
 larger birds. 
 
48 BIRD-CATCHING. 
 
 Wryneck. In general it is caught by putting lime 
 twigs round the nest ; but if the weather be stormy, 
 as in spring, when it is busy searching the bushes for 
 insects, it may even be taken by the hand. The one I 
 now have was brought to me by a little boy who had 
 taken it in this manner. 
 
 Yellowliammer. The yellowhammer is easily taken 
 in winter, near our dwellings, either in a net, with a 
 stalk of oats as a bait, or under a basket or sieve, 
 which may be thrown down, by drawing away the 
 small stick that supports it by means of a string. 
 They will also enter the area or barn-floor trap, if a 
 perching bird is fastened there, by a string attached 
 to the leather band round its body ; in spring they may 
 be caught like other birds, by means of a bird-call, 
 
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