CALL, among fowlers, the noise or cry of a bird, especially to its young, or to its mate in coupling-time. One method of catching partridges is by the natural call of a hen trained for the purpose, which drawing the cocks to her, they are entangled in a net. Different birds require different sorts of calls; but they are
most of them composed of a pipe or reed, with a little leather bag or purse, somewhat in form of a bellows; which, by the motion given thereto, yields a noise like that of the species of bird to be taken. The call for partridges is formed like a boat bored through, and fitted with a pipe or swan's quill, &c. to be blown with the mouth, to make the noise of the cock partridge, which is very different from the call of the hen. Calls for quails, &c. are made of a leather purse in shape like a pear, stuffed with horse-hair, and fitted at the end with the bone of a cat's, hare's, or coney's leg, formed like a flagolet. They are play'd, by squeezing the purse in the palm of the hand, at the same time striking on the flagolet part with the thumb, to counterfeint the call of the hen-quail.