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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
end_n	distance_n	draw_v	line_n	2,601	5	9.5414	5	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A60476	The experienc'd fowler: or, The gentleman, citizen, and country-man's pleasant and profitable recreation Containing, I. The true art of taking water and land fowl, with divers kinds of nets, lime-twigs lime-bushes, and how to make the best bird-lime. II. Directions for bat-fowling, lowbelling, tramelling, and driving fowl, how to find their haunts, and take them with springes, snares, &c. III. An exact method for using the fowling-piece at a true level, to shoot at the water, ground, bush or flying. ... By J. S Gent.	Smith, John, d. 1684.	1697 (1697)	Wing S4108C; ESTC R220081	40,290	164

soon take right again and run into the Net This will do for Partridge but for Quails you must have some Cages with live Quails in them to call the others to them as you drive for these run more heady than Partridges and to make them when they come near the Net gather in a body strow Millet or some Seeds which increasing will invite them to go on cheerfully or you may drive them by one going on the one side and the other on the other shaking little Collars of Bells but not making any great noise with them lest being much afraid they take wing and so you lose them This Net must be pitched before day and the Fowl driven soon after day-light or it may as well be done in a clear Moon-shine night Sundry ways for taking Pheasants with their Haunts c. This kind of Fowl take pleasure in thick young Coppices Woods unfrequented large and very shady You may find their Haunts in the day-time by looking under the Trees or upon the Boughs in the night and at certain Seasons by the crowing of the Cock-Pheasant If they have a Brood you may find them by the Cock's calling early in the morning and late in the evening and when undiscovered of them you perceive how they lodge there pitch your Nets But it would be very convenient if you could be perfect in the several Calls of the Cock and Hen-Pheasant as to Brooding-time a little before Sun-set give them warning of danger which will gather them together by such counterfeit Notes when they have stragled for rejoining and playing will bring the Cock and Hen together when separated Having by these acquainted your self with their Haunts hide your self in the closest place you can and then begin to call low at first and raising your Note by degrees not ever-straining it If nothing presently answer you and if there be any within hearing you will be answered in a little time and if you are answered by a single Note from a distance creep nearer as the Pheasant will do to you and as you come nearer lower your Note humouring her in imitation and when you see her on the Boughs or Ground and she is prying to find you cease calling and spread your Net softly and privately with much speed in the convenientest place between you and the Fowl upon the lowest Bushes and Shrubs making one end fast to the Ground and the other by a long Line held in your hand so that when it is by anything strained you may draw it close together in a hollow cmpass then call again and when you perceive her come just under your Net to seek you out rise on a sudden which will make her flutter up and be instantly intangled If more than one or several from divers quarters answer your Call remove not but call on and spread your Net as they come near you which you will know by the continued Answers and when they are under the Net do as before To drive young Pheasants or Pheasant-Pouts You must find where their chief Haunts are by their Dung and the barrenness or beating the place here you will find little Pads leading like tracks of Hares in this open place as conveniently as you can place your Nets then go into the thickest places and call low and they will answer as well as they can cover your face and body with Boughs as far as you can conveniently then cluck them together but lie close that they see you not at least to discover you lest the amazement make them scamper into Bushes and hide themselves in holes out of which they will not come till their fears are over or hunger force them You must also for this purpose be provided with a thing called a Driver made of strong white Osiers spread like a Fan and centring in an end as a Fan does in a handle fastned through the middle with two chains or bindings of Osier and keeping ●ll out of sight with this you must rake the Bushes and you will see them presently cluster on a heap and then run a little way and stand still Then rake again and they will do the like if they go not the right way steal about and rake in their faces and they will turn again and when you have got them into the Pads you may drive them like Sheep if you do it circumspectly The Net must be placed loose hollow and circularywise the lower part fastned to the ground and the upper bending hollow and loose that when the Fowl rush against it it may fall and entangle them If in driving you find any dismay among them so that you fear they will run into Holes or take wing which you may see by their frightful gazing about then leave off raking and be mute till you perceive by their cluck and peeping they have recovered their fears and then proceed again and so do till you have attained your ends And thus having discovered the best and surest way of taking Fowl both of the Water and Land by Nets that are worth considering I● come now to give other Directions to take them for Nets being chargeable every one cannot be accommodated with them nor can they as you have heard be easily managed but by two or three Persons To Fowl with the Piece and Stalking-Horse A Barrel of five foot and a half cleaverly made taper but by such degrees as not well discernable in particular parts till declining to the muzzle or little end and if they be case-hardened they will endure better carry much farther and not be so apt to jarr or recoil Six foot is a sufficient length for the Barrel of any Piece all above are unmanagable and tiresom and though they may carry farther the Mark is as it were beyond aim and by reason so vast a distance of Air is to be penetrated with the Shot it will make such an impression on and so divide them that there can be seldom a true level unless with a single Bullet As for the bore it must be indifferent not quite so big as that of a Harquebuss and so it will hold and carry the Charges to a farther level and in this case a good and true Fire-lock is to be preferred before all others because it is not so discernable to the Fowl as a Match-lock neither so troublesome and then again in Rain Snow Fogs or windy weather there is no fear of extinguishing as a Match often is when you are many miles from a House perhaps and then if you have not a Tinder-box at hand your Sport for a time is marred But I need not much insistion this because Fire-locks have gained the preference and the other are rarely used Your Charge of Powder must be something more than the proportion of your Shot in measure but not in weight at least a third part but here I must leave it to the length and strength of your Piece and the distance you level at for the proportioning

and this Stale-Bird ●eing a Lure for Hawks and ●ther Birds of Prey that will ●oop at her if you be nimble ●●u may easily take them Now particularly for the ●●rk though it serves for o●●er Birds sometimes beside ●at I have mentioned there 〈◊〉 Looking glass Stale which ●y be done and this too is ●allure them down for ho●ring over it and seeing their ●●dows by reflexion they sup●●se it another Sky and are so ●●led and taken with the no●●ty that they scarce know ●●ether they descend or ascend 〈◊〉 this Glass must be triangu●● and sloping every way so at being fastened on Wood ●oportionable with a Socket 〈◊〉 Foot and some bright red ●●lour placed between you must so order to draw it with Line as it may turn swift backward and forward which may be done in the same natur● by placing it on a Frame tha● it may hang as the Boys whi●●ling things are with a Nut i● to which goes a String windi●● and unwinding on a Stick wi●● an Apple at the end of it as is pulled or slackened and th● being once seen is easily don● and the refore I shall not be t●●dious in insisting on it As for the Stales place the● between the Nets about t●● foot or somewhat more dista●● one from the other so th● when the Net is pulled over 〈◊〉 Cords may not injure the● Let them stand even ove● against each other in a dire● Line The Glass must be ke●● almost continually moving a●● the Bird made very often to fl●●ker Having thus prepared things for the Sport the next thing is to be vigilant and for your Seat you may dig a hole in the ground knee-deep and cast up some of the Earth before you to shelter you as much as may be from the sight of the Fowl and if they are such Fowl as are very shy you may lie along and cover the greatest part of you with Grass or Stubble Your Drawing Lines may be twelve or fourteen yards Lay the main Draw-line with a strong Button of Wood in it made fast to your Thigh and when you pull over do it with both hands swiftly and nimbly If you want living Stales or that they prove too troublesom to keep you may shoot a Lark or some other Bird take out the Intrails stuff him with Tow and dry him in an Oven his Wings set in a flying posture and so you may be furnished at all times But the living Stale is the best in my Opinion Now as for Implements to be used on occasion you must not go abroad without them viz. spare Poles Lines and Stakes Pack-thread of different sizes a Knitting needle and Pin a Hatchet to sharpen your Stakes a Mallet to drive them in and Bag for your Stales and other Birds with a dark Cage at the end of it If you Net for the smaller sort of Singing-Birds as Li●nets Chaffinch Green-bird Goldfinch c. have such Birds for S●ales as have been brought up to sing in Cages on the outsides of the fall of your Nets who refresh●d with the Sun-beams will sing and by their Melody draw others of the kind to them As for the Lapwing she is exceeding shy and though she may dodge and play about your Nets is not easily caught Your Nets must be of a larger Mash and somewhat larger for this Fowl and between them place several d●i●d Lapwings or their Skins stuffed and set out as if they were pecking or sluttering and at the head of them which must as near as you can discern be placed to the Wind let there be two live Stales give them Meat that they may be pe●king and to enti●e those that are on the Wing to you must have the perfect Lapwing-Call and as soon as ever they sw●op within the danger of your Nets draw up for if you give them leasure to discover the Deceit they are gone again and will be hardly induced to come any more To allure Stares to you you must set live Stales in your Net and in Cages and when they are hungry they will cry and make a calamitous noise which will● draw such as are within hearing to their succour To drive Larks and other Birds into Nets To place Nets in Woods Coppices c. for Pheasants and other Fowl that have there their Haunts THere are yet other sorts of Nets that may be used where these large ones have not such a conveniency and the first I shall mention of these kinds is called by the Italians Pantiere it may be about four Ells deep and of the same Mash with the foregoing Day-nets but then it is strung on the upper side with a Cord on which run a row of small Rings and to them Cords that draw them close or spread them at pleasure they must be supported by two or three more Stakes according to the wideness of the place where they are set get them ready in the Evening driving before Sun set two hours and for the driving in the Morning an hour before Sun-rise These are best in low stubble Fields where the Larks and other small Birds frequent in flocks and when the Net is in right order you must have a long Rope which must be extended and held by two Persons one at the one end and the other at t'other begin to draw in a direct line about two or three hundred yards if the ground be any thing level and admit it walking towards the Net as near as you can in a right line over the stubble that it may rusle and so you may raise the Larks that scatter up and down the Field This Rope may be between twenty and thirty yards long they will not in this case usually take the wing but run before the Rope which drags bellying after them and so you may gently drive them on into the Net which not being straight stretched out but easily running up the more they struggle the more they will be intangled There is another sort of Netting in Groves or Woods where large Nets cannot come without intangling nor are they proper these are properly for small Birds but if the Pheasant can be got into it it will hold him The true Net must be lined with a false one having larger Mashes that the Birds getting through the one may be intangled between both The upper edge of this Net must have Iron or Horn-rings put on a strong Cord and the true Net as well as the two false ones on either side must be verged with a Cord Of these Nets one two or three of them may be placed in the open places of a Grove and crossing the place fastned by the two top Cords made with winding step round them to mount up and on the top to have little holes to pass the Ropes through and Pullies in them to draw the Lines nimbly and stretch out the Nets especially towards the middle making in each Mash a kind of a Purse or Pouch that when the Bird strikes against it it may

THE Experienc'd Fowler OR THE Gentleman Citizen and Country-man's Pleasant and Profitable RECREATION Containing 1. The True Art of taking Water and Land Fowl with divers kinds of Nets Lime-Twigs Lime-Bushes and how to make the best Bird-Lime II. Directions for Bat-Fowling Lowbelling Tramelling and driving Fowl how to find their Haunts and take them with Springes Snares c. III. An exact Method for using the Fowling-Piece at a true level to shoot at the Water Ground Bush or Flying IV. How to make Shot proportion the Charge and know good Powder with the proper use of the Stalking-Horse Bush Hedge and how to manage them V. Of Singing-Birds their Diseases and Cure VI. How to distinguish all sorts of Poulterers Ware whether Old or Young Fresh or Stale full of Eggs or not Also to well Order and speedily Fat Tame and Wild Fowl VII To which is added Directions for destroying all manner of Vermine By J. S. Gent. London Printed for Jo. Sprint at the Blue Bell and G. Conyers at the Ring in Little Britain 1697. THE PREFACE TO THE READER READER IN this small Tract I have laboured to set forth the best Methods to improve your Recreation in the Art of Fowling that it may truly be said to be a Pleasure separated from the extraordinary fatigue and toil some put themselves to on this occasion I have not only there inserted my own Experience but with them have laid down the Experiments of the most cunning and dexterous Proficients There is beside Pleasure Profit in this Exercise the Air affording you various Dainties to furnish your Table with that the Earth and Water seem to consent you should feast to your contentment if you will be industrious in taking what in great plenty they afford This Exercise moderately used is also very much conducing to Health by being up early and breathing the fresh Morning Airs and the Earths ascending Fragrancy I have gone through this Subject in all its parts not only to direct you how to take the Fowl of the Water and Land but what Materials you must order and make to that purpose with the exact way of managing them to the best advantage not to fail of success Nor is this all I have herein treated of Singing Birds and the several Diseases incident to them also their Cures for want of which Knowledge many fine Birds have been lost to the perplexity of the Owners I have done the like in relation to domestick Poultry with a speedy way to fatten Tame and Wild-fowl and that such as buy them alive or dead may not be imposed upon or cheated I have likewise set down unerring Directions to know their Age or Youngness Newness or Staleness and whether with Egg or no so that in this only you may in one Marketing save more than the Price of the Book And because nothing should be wanting to make it compleat I have added to it the way to destroy all sorts of Vermin in Houses Barns Fields or such as afflict the Bodys of Men. So hoping it will not fail to please I humbly submit it to your perusal and Candor who am Your Friend to serve You J. S. ADVERTISEMENT THe True Art of Angling Or the best way of Finding and Taking all sorts of Fish with all sorts of Baits with several other Secrets concerning the said Recreation the like never made publick before By J. S. Gent. The Pious Man's Directions shewing how to walk with God all his Days By a Well-wisher of the Whole Duty of Man Both printed for S. Sprint and G. Conyers The Compleat Cook Or the whole Art of Cookery describing the Best and Newest Ways of Dressing all sorts of Flesh Fish and Fowl likewise their proper Sauces and Garnishes With Instructions how to make the most approved Soops and Potages By several eminent Cooks Printed for G Conyers OF FOWL and their Haunts c. FOWLING is not only a pleasant but profitable Recreation contributing to the Health of the Body in its Exercise and furnishing the Table with Dainties Seeing then most are unskilful in the true method of it I have thought necessary for the accommodating Gentlemen and others to lay down such Rules and Directions in so easie and intelligible a manner as cannot but be pleasing and agreeable to all Persons who desire to be skilled herein As for the Haunts of Wild-Fowl though it is more usual in one place than another yet they are not always certain though they have especially at Seasons their Day-haunts and Night-haunts for particularly the greater sort such as are called Game and worth taking retire in the day-time to some place where they may securely rest in the evening they take their best feeding particularly Water-fowl who are the watchfullest and shiest of all others and these then are most usually found at small green Streams to which in the day-time they resort not unless excessive hard Weather or want of Food elsewhere compel them These Water-fowl are properly those that are called Web-footed though there is another sort that much frequent Marshes and watry places which are not so as the Bittern Heron c. But though these peculiarly delight in Fish which makes them resort where they are most likely to find them they swim not as the Wild-goose Duck Widgeon Moor-hen c. who delight in Rivers and large deep Waters and in Winter where the Currents or Springs deny access to the Frost and so watchful are they that they have their Scouts on all the Avenues to give the whole Body notice of any ones approach and speedily being alarmed they take wing and fly to such places as they suppose of more safety It is the nature of these Water-fowl to keep in Flocks and when at any time you see a single one or a couple flying there you may certainly conclude they have been separated from the rest by some great affrightment and will hardly rest till they have rejoined them And this separation often happens by the beating of the Haggards and Wild-hawks upon the Banks of the Rivers and other Waters pursuing them as they rise which causes this alteration But to come nearer to the purpose I now enter on the subject matter The ordering of the Net to take large Water-fowl IF you design to Net for the Water-fowl of any largeness consider that your Nets be made of strong firm Pack-thread well twisted and dried the Mashes or Squares large the better to intangle them but take this caution along with you That they be not so wide as to lose the Fowl by its creeping through This Net must be about two fathom deep and six in length and with neat strong Cord verge it on each side at either end extend it with long Poles that the lower ends of the Poles may be fastned with a piece of Line to two Stakes well driven into the ground that they may not give way and this must be done where you observe the feeding-places and morning-haunts of such Fowl Place

your Nets about two hours before their usual time of coming then at about two or three fathom beyond the Net in a direct line from the Stakes fasten one end of the Cord that the upper part of the Net is extended to or upon whilst the other end you hold in your hand being about ten or twelve fathom long that when the Game approaches within the compass of your Net on a swift or sudden pull you may easily cast it over ' em The Net must be flat on the ground and the better to prevent its being discerned cover it lightly over with short Grass or Sedge then make a hiding-place for your self of Fern Reeds Flags or such as the place affords that the Fowl seeing such-like things elsewhere about them may be the more familiar with it and approach the bolder As for your Stale if you have any that is a tame one or one artificially made of the kind you mostly Net for it is most proper to place it within the verge of the Net for the better encrease of your Sport And this you may continue till the Sun is risen about an hour or some-longer but not much for then their feeding in those places is over till a little before Sun-set again If your Net design'd for great Fowl be very large you cannot conveniently have a pair of Draw-nets unless some one help you for one will be as much as you can manage and conveniently throw over the Fowl But for the smaller sort a pair of Draw-nets may be proper enough and well managed in manner and form as you see in the following Figure To take small Water-fowl with folding Day-nets c. This Net must be staked athwart the River or Pond and the bottom plummed so that it may sink about six Inches under water and the upper part by straining be slantwise against the Current where there is one and about two foot above the Water and fasten the String that guides the upper part of the Net to a small yielding Twig the better for its giving way when the Fowl strikes against the Net so that she may the more intangle You may have several of these Nets placed at a convenient distance on a River and if the Fowl fall near them you cannot miss of Game And where the Fowl lie remote from your Nets you may drive or scare them to that place by shooting or making a noise with any loud Instrument that may fray them from those Marshes or Pools to the River These are the properest ways by Nets to take them though there are many more which in their proper places I shall have occasion to speak of and lay down suitable Rules and Directions to answer your desire Land-fowl their Haunts and how to take them with Nets LAnd-fowl are not so shy as Water-fowl as oftener seeing Men yet are they cunning enough to avoid danger Those that are properly termed Land-fowl and worth taking are found in Woods Copices Heaths Fields c. where they have their several Haunts according to their Nature or the Season of the Year and they principally are Pheasants Partridges Rails Quails Pouts Heath-cocks Wood-Pidgeons Black-birds Field-fares Stares Thrushes Larks Puffins Wheatears and the like and those or these or other sorts that gather in Flights may be taken in the day-time with Nets In ordering this Affair you must consider what Food they most delight in for it will be proper to bait the place as well to decoy them into the compass and danger of your Net by a Stale or Bird of the kind you mostly lay in for The Mashes of your Nets must be proportionable to the Fowl that is not big enough for them to escape nor so little that there will be difficulty in their intangling and about an inch or a little more in the square will do Let the Net be about three fathom in length and one in depth verged on either side with a sufficient Cord and the Net be in all things as the figure pag. 9. describes These Nets must be of a very exact size and the best time for this Sport is from August to November tho' in an open Winter it may be indifferently us'd till the middle of February or the time the Birds begin to couple You must in this case be an early riser and have your Nets placed before they are well come abroad from their night roosting and this must be somewhat before the Sun is up The most successful places are on short Barley-stubble green Lays or even Meadows that are dry also in Champion ground far from any Villages or resort of People and where the ground proves uneven you must use your endeavour to reduce it to an evenness that the Nets sinking into the short grass or stubble and part of it coming thro the Mashes it may appear as hid and very little to be discerned and likewise on plain ground the Nets in drawing will close so even that being covered the Birds may not flicker or creep through them The Nets thus placed slaked and corded as has been directed that at the smart and swift motion they may fly up and close even there remain Directions to allure the Birds to you and to do this stick Poles in the ground if the place otherwise affords not advantage that by their playing and noise they draw the Birds to wonder 〈◊〉 them These Giggs are to 〈◊〉 made of long Goose-feathers 〈◊〉 manner like a Shuttle-cock ●unning with little Turnels of Wood in flat and broad Swans Quills round like a little hoop so that long Strings being fastned to the Pole they will with the least breath of Wind turn and flicker in the Air the Strangeness of which draws the Birds to gaze as thinking it some wonderful Creature of the Airy kind The next thing to be done is to place your Stale to do this drive a small Stake into the ground having a Mortice on the top of it or very near and into this Mortice put a piece of slender Wood about two foot long fasten it so in the Mortice that with a String you may move it up and down at pleasure and tie to it a small Line which running through a ho● in the Stake and coming 〈◊〉 your hand at the distance yo● sit you may by it as often 〈◊〉 you pull mount the Stick from the ground On this Stick towards thr end fasten your Stale-Bird as live Lark or other suitable t● what Birds you see flocking up and down so that by the motion of the Stick her flickerin will make her appear as if she was flying about to feed And indeed you must have Seeds Corn or Chaff scattered near about and within the compass of your Net by which mean● they will be allured and with out much difficulty taken You need not always stay for their alighting on the ground but if they play about and swoop near it draw up smartly and you will not fail to cover some 〈◊〉 them

more readily go through the false Net and be intangled in the real one The bottom of the Net or that side next the ground must have sundry Strings hanging at it a foot distance one from another which may be fastened to Pegs struck into the Earth and the middle of the Net which ought to be deeper will fall on a heap or furls The proper times for this are early before they are scattered to feed or in the evening when they are preparing to go to rooft and it will be proper for some one to drive the Grove and Wood with his Voice or a Driver ratling the Boughs that they may be gathered towards the N●ts and in this to hinder them from mounting and flying away turn off a Sparrow-hawk or other small Hawk with Bells who soaring aloft or pearching on the highest Tree keeps them down and greatly in awe but this for want of a Hawk may be done by an artificial one made with Bells carried on the top of a high Pole Of taking Sparrows c. with the Clap-Net There is another Net used called the Clap Net or Sparrow Net made up of two cross Stawes a Press Net and two Strings that may easily draw i● together when the Birds are in it This Net is properly used 〈…〉 or early in the morning by clapping it to the Eves of Houses Barns Hovels or Ricks of Corn and in Autumn against Vines growing on Walls of Houses and when it is set to any place knock and thrust the cross Staves against it and at the noise the Birds that roost there will be affrighted and come out when flying into the Net you may draw it up like a Purse and thus you may take great numbers Partridges Haunts and of setting them Partridges are most certain to be found in Corn-fields whilst the Corn is standing and till the Stubble be beaten down by Cattel and other Accidents however they will continue there but not so certainly often upon affrights taking wing for other places and for them particularly look in Wheat-fields which Grain above others they love But when it is much trodden look in Barley-stubble and there you will find them If any be near the Wheat-fields when the stubble is ploughed up especially in Winter or over-soiled with Cattel then they betake them to enclosed Grounds or upland Meadows lodging in the tufted Grass or Fog under Hedges Banks the Roots of Trees or among Mole-hills sometimes in Coppices Under-Woods Closes and Inclosures Commons c. that are bushy or produce Brake Furz Goss Ling and the like In Harvest time being often disturbed they leave the Corn-field for the Falows adjoining lying among Clods or Turfs turned up at night when all is still they go to feed in the Corn-fields As for finding them many do it by the Eye which must be by use in distinguishing their true Colour from the Ground others by the Cock's call and Hens answering and presently gathering the whole Covey together which you may know by their chattering and rejoicing in their meeting others take notice by the newness of their dunging flatting the Grass or Subble then they are just removed and not far off But the best way is to get their true Call in all their Notes and then if any be near you may be answered at pleasure and draw them to you but as soon as you have discovered them move off and take a Circle round them see how they lie and prepare your Nets to cover them But if by this means you cannot find them a Setting-dog is very proper who will scent them out but before you carry him into the Field he must be approved in Obedience to your Signs and Voice to stand still when he sees the Game and then immediately fall on his Belly and lie as snug with his Nose on the ground as possible He having done thus if you imagin him too far off by his looking on you for Orders for what he should do more make signs to him to go nearer and he will crawl on his Belly and when near enough he will keep his eye directly on the Partridges then is your time to be moving and range your circumference about the Dog and Covey to see whether it lies close together or scatter'd then make a sign to the Dog to lie still draw out your Net and take you one end of the top Cord whilst another does the same to the other and holding it stretched run with it where the Dog fixes his eye and let it fall on the Covey then make a noise that they may spring up and be entangled lest otherwise taking to the run they get under your Net and escape this may be done by one Person staking down one of the Cords within distance and drawing over the other if they lie stragling you ought to have two Nets but this seldom happens And thus you may take Pheasants Quails or Moor-Pouts Another way to take Patridge with the Net Being destitute of a Setting-dog you must by your Eye or the Directions before laid down find them out Let your Nets be large and the Mashes of such a wideness as may soon entangle but not let the Partridge escape and having found how they lie draw forth your Net and take a large circumference with a good round pace your eye rather from than towards them and when your Net is fitted to the purpose draw your circumference closer till you come within your Net 's length not making any stop hastily plucking down your Staff of about three foot long and fasten to it one end of the Line of your Net then let it slip out of your hand spreading it as you go and so when you are over the Partridges let it fall and if they rise not make a noise to affright them and so they will be entangled and taken at your pleasure The way of driving Partridges and Quails into the Tramelling Net To do this you must have a Stalking-horse artificially made with Canvas or Paste-board either flat or stuffed or the shape of an Ox Stag or some other Creature familiar to these Birds then take your Tramelling Net which is round and fixed on Hoops with two Flyers to close it when the Game is entred Fix it in the most covert and shady place you can but so that there may be access easily to it and let it stand with the wind if the place allow not naturally a cover shadow it over with Boughs Weeds or the like● then covering your face with something green that they may not discern it take your Stalking-horse or Engine stalk towards the Fowl a gentle pace covering your body with it as much as may be and they will run before you and not be affrighted as they will before the Horse naturally for fear he in grazing along should tread on them If they happen to run by-ways or contrary to what you would have them cross them but not hastily with your Stalking-horse and they will

light or fly are very close every one coveting and crouding to get into the middle Center How to Lime Partridges Take a handful or more of the largest Wheat-straws cut them off at every knot take the two lower joynts only Lime them over smoothly and find out their haunts by the directions page 28. then call a little and when they answer prick down your Straws in rows sloping the upper ends four or five Inches from the ground both cross the Lands and in the Furrows then lye down near these Straws covered with Stubble or Grass if no Bushe● afford shelter then call them and cease not till you have drawn them to you so that passing through the Limed Straws they will be entangled and those that miss will be daubed by the other when they come crouding and justling close up like Chickens that scarcely any of the company will escape the proper time for this is after Harvest in Stubble Fields and it may be continued till Christmas but in Woods and Pastures you must use the small Birch Rods prick●●ng them as the Straws call in ●he same manner and order every thing accordingly To take all sorts of small Birds with the Lime-bush or Twigs Take a Branch that spreads much with very small Sprigs as ●irch Willow Poplar or Sal●ow let the Stem of it be pret●●● long and have some Stales 〈◊〉 stand in sight of such Birds ●hose Flights are most usual in ●ose places Lime the Twigs ●eatly over unless those the ●tales are fastned on and watch in some covert place the flocking of the Birds having one at a distance with a Clapper or something that will make a noise to drive them that way and if two or three light mind them not but when they are entangled they will serve as Stales for the rest and so when they are in any number intangled down with the Bush and seize them in a Bag or Sack a live Owl or the figure of her exactly painted is a good Stale to draw them to wonder at and in the heat of persecuting her they will be taken by Twigs and find there is nothing got by being quarelsome If they are slow in coming you must in the covert where you lye hid use your Bird-Call or Mouth and this you must learn to do by hearing each Bird's Note and often practising to bring your self to imitate you may take them with Lime-twigs only setting them before day as has been often directed in the general haunts where they feed which is a ●ittle after Day-break at farthest about Sun-rise or you may place the Lime-twigs all along ●he Hedges where they roost ●ome slope-wise others upright some cross and very near together that when they return from feeding they may be en●angled or if they return not ●olunatarily you may go into ●he Fields adjacent and drive them to the Hedges this may ●e done an hour after Sun-rise and as much before it Set. Another excellent way to take small Birdg Take three handfuls of large Wheat-Ears let the Straw remain to them a foot long only Liming that and not the Ears then stick them up in hard Frosty weather that the Ears may hang and the Straws bend as it were Arch-wise do this if it may be in Snow and scatter a little Chaff over it fasten down a Stale if you have it of the same kind you desire most to take let the Ears be spread single and when the Birds flock to pick them or attempt to fly away with them the Straw to be sure laps one Wings and brings the Bird down again so that this way you may take great numbers for Sparrows you may fix them on the Tops of Barns or Thatched Houses and not only get the Birds but some abundance of Corn by destroying them To take Water-Fowl with Snares and Sprindges You must as in other cases find the Haunts and usual Feedings well observing the Water Tracts and Furrows where they usually go especially where many Furrows meet which you may percieve by their Paddles and Worms Floagrass and such other things as they like being there and when you find the meeting Furrows come as it were into one narrow stream or passage and then divide into other Branches and Parts deepest always in the middle these are sufficient grounds to believe you may have here good Gaiue especially near Rivers or 〈◊〉 and in the Center of these where most Paddles are you must place your Instruments stopping all other avenues with Bushes Sedg Flags or any thing that will make little Fences about a handful above the Water and then the Fowl unless on fright will keep the direct road and not pass over them This done the next business is to take a long stiff young Plant taper to the end not apt to break but pliable to bend of Holly Hazle or Yew sharpen it at the great end and fasten a Swivel-loop on the Top then pitch it in the place you design to expect your Game and proceed to make a Line of Horse-hair in strength by the number of Hairs sufficient to take and hold the Fowl you design it for fasten this to the Loop on the top of your Plant and let it be a little more than half the length of it with a running Noose then bend a Hazle loopwise in an Oval or Egg fashion but lesser at one end let the bending be greater or smaller according to the proportion of the Fowl and this is called the Bridge because it answers as the Bridge does in a Mouse-Trap hard by the Swickle or Loop fasten within an inch and a half of the bent Plant a little Tricker broad and thin as is usual to a Mouse-Trap then lay your Loop of Hazle cross the Tricker and hang the bow-end of it on a Hook or Peg driven into the ground on one side the track the stalk or other end of it you must put underneath the bout of the first mentioned bow-stick and near to the end of the stalk cut a nick then six the long hazle plant viz. the great end strongly in the Earth that it may not give way on the side of the Bank where the Track is and bring the smaller strongly bowed till the Tricker by putting one end of it under the bout of the first mentioned stick and the other end in the stalk of or end of the Bridge may be fastened and keep the plant strongly bent down This done lay the Loop of Horse-hair on the Bridge conveniently wide but so as it may not well be discerned and then the Fowl coming and treading in the middle of it on the Bridge it will slip away and the feet of the Fowl be caught in the Loop by the sudden and smart rising of the hazle-plant and thus according to the strength of the plant you may take the largest Fowl that this Island affords The manner of Bat-Fowling Having observed where the Birds in great numbers Roost in Hedges Shrubs or Trees go

thither in a dark Night and have a Wicker with a handle to hold on high in which you can place three or four Links at half a foot distance make a Circle of them if you have enough light the Links when you come at the place and if it be in a hedge let one go with a pole and beat the contrary side and one or two be with you carrying long Bushes and when they are unroosted with beating they will come flying about the light so that those with the Bushes may easily strike them down if in a Wood or among Shrubs and Furrs let one of each side you beat at a pretty distance this must be in a fair still Night Or you may pitch down a Lime-bush as in pag 85. and hold your blaze or light by it and being roused they will fly about it to wonder at the light and be entangled that you may easily take them Low-belling This must be chiefly practised in open Countries from the end of October till March is the the properest season and the manner is thus In a still Evening about Eight of the Clock when the Moon shines not take your Low-Bell of a moderate size that it may be well managed by one man in one hand having a deep and hollow sound have also a Net with small Mashes twenty yards long and so broad that five or six ordinary Lands may be covered with it and go into Fields where the Stubble has not been much trod but is something high and fresh especially Wheat-stubble let the Bell-man go foremost and Toll it distinctly and dolesully letting it strike but now and then on each side and follow with the sour corners of the Net born up and on each side then another must carry a Pan of live Coals without any blaze and pitching your Net where you suppose the Game is make little Bundles of Stubble and set them on a blaze or you may carry Links for that purpose then with Poles and some noise rouse the Fowl if any be under the Net so that being entangled you may take them then put out the Lights go to another haunt in this case the noise of the Low-bell astonishes them and makes them lye still but the light causes them to rise by dazzling and affrighting them but you must make no other noise till you suppose your Nets are over them To take Birds another way by Lights Take a Net of an ordinary Mash fasten it to two green pliant Willows as thick as a Man's Finger and about three yards long fasten these to a square Bastion about two yards and a half long in two holes some what distant the one from the other and cover likewise with the Net it serving for a handle to carry and manage it and the form may be square or round resembling a Racket this carry before you ready spread then another must go close by your side with a Lanthorn having but one Light before it all the rest dark so that you may see the Birds and they not you and whilst they are gazing and wondering clap the Net over them and making a noise they will rise in it and entangle this may be done with a Lanthorn with a round glass in the front of it like a Lamp-light easily portable To take Birds with the Trammel The Trammel is little different from the Lowbelling Net though it may be somewhat longer but not broader when you come near their haunts spread it on the ground plum the hinder part with Lead that it may trail on the ground but the two foreparts carried up by men about a yard from the ground and one on each side the Net must go with blazing lights others with bushy poles to beat up the Fowl as you go and so as they rise will entangle and so you may trace a vast deal of ground in a few hours The Art of taking Fowl with Baits and of Trap-Cages This mostly is to be done to Birds of Prey either on Fish or Flesh though other may be taken The Heron is a great destroyer of Fish-ponds and to take her this way find the water she haunts then get three or four small Dace or Roach and draw a smooth Wire just withinside their skins beginning on the outside of their Gills run it to the Tail fasten it to a Line strong twisted with Wyre and Green Silk three or four yards stake the end of the Line in the ground that the Fish may play in the shallow where the Heron can wade and arm the end of the Wire with a convenient large Fish-hook and when the Heron stalks into the Water for her Prey she will greedily swallow the Fish if alive or else not and so be taken with the hook but if the Line be only Silk she will with her sharp Bill bite it in sunder and escape Thus Wild-Ducks are taken baited with Worms Lights or the like Ravens Buzzards Kites and divers other Fowl with Nux Vomica dissolved in Lees of Wine and made up into little Pellets scattered or rowled up in Carrion or such things as they take for flying up after it suddenly works and stupefies them so that they fall down again and may be taken up but if they lye long they will recover and fly away Such Grain as Birds feed on steeped or boiled in Spirits of Wine will have the same effect on them if you watch them a little when they fall and be quick in taking them up As for Linnets Robins Goldfinches Nightingales and such choice Singing Birds you may take them in Trap-Cages placed in their haunts and baited with Seeds Worms bred on Herbs A●●-Eggs Flies or the like and these Cages may be bought ready made at easie rates to save you trouble in making them and me the like in describing them few being ignorant what they are And thus much for Fowling in general and particular To make Birds Sing in Autumn and Winter About the beginning of May let them be well purged with Beet by mingling the Juice with their Water after that for a space give them no Water at all but hang fresh Beet-Leaves in their Cages often renewing it and spread the bottom of the Cage with fine sifted Gravel and Earth and by degrees use them to darkness for ten days by darkening the place one day more than another till they are quite dark And let one certain person that seeds them only come at them with a Candle once in three days to give them clean Water and their Feed cleanse their Cages c. and here it would be convenient to have two Cages that a change may be made every twenty days every fourth day give them the Leaves of Beet and every tenth the Juice as before least you endanger their being blind In this manner keep them till about the tenth of August then new purge them after the manner first described and then by degrees accustom them to the Light but expose them not for a considerable