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 leathern 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 leathern 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 played, by squeezing the purse in the palm of the hand, at the same time striking on the flagolet part with the thumb to counterfeit the call of the hen quail.
CALL of the House. See CALLING.