art of taking birds or wild-fowl, whether for food, for the pleasure of their song, or for their destruction as pernicious to the husbandman, &c. The methods are by bird-lime, nets, decoys, &c. See Bird-Lime, infra; and Decoy.
In the suburbs of London (and particularly about Shoreditch) are several weavers and other tradesmen, who, during the months of October and March, get their livelihood by an ingenious, and, we may say, a scientific, method of bird-catching, which is totally unknown in other parts of Great Britain. The reason of this trade being confined to so small a compass, arises from there being no considerable sale for singing-birds except in the metropolis: as the apparatus for this purpose is also heavy, and at the same time must be carried on a man's back, it prevents the bird-catchers going to above three or four miles distance.
This method of bird-catching must have been long practised, as it is brought to a most systematical perfection, and is attended with a very considerable expense.
The nets are a most ingenious piece of mechanism; are generally twelve yards and a half long, and two yards and a half wide; and no one, on bare inspection, would imagine that a bird (who is so very quick in all its motions) could be caught by the nets flapping over each other, till he becomes eye-witness of the pullers seldom failing.
The wild birds fly (as the bird-catchers term it) chiefly during the month of October, and part of September and November; as the flight in March is much less considerable than that of Michaelmas. It is to be noted also, that the several species of birds of flight do not make their appearance precisely at the same time, during the months of September, October, and November. The pipet (a), for example, begins to fly about Michaelmas; and then the woodlark, linnet, goldfinch, chaffinch, greenfinch, and other birds of flight succeed; all of which are not easily to be caught, or in any numbers, at any other time, and more particularly the pipet and the woodlark.
These birds, during the Michaelmas and March flights, are chiefly on the wing from day-break to noon, though there is afterwards a small flight from two till night; but this however is so inconsiderable, that the bird-catchers always take up their nets at noon.
It may well deserve the attention of the naturalist whence these periodical flights of certain birds can arise. As the ground, however, is ploughed during the months of October and March for sowing the winter and lent corn, it should seem that they are thus supplied with a great profusion both of seeds and insects, which they cannot so easily procure at any other season.
It may not be improper to mention another circumstance, to be observed during their flighting, viz. that they fly always against the wind; hence, there is great contention amongst the bird-catchers who shall gain that point; if (for example) it is westerly, the bird-catcher who lays his nets most to the east, is sure almost of catching every thing, provided his call-birds are good: a gentle wind to the south-west generally produces the best sport.
The bird-catcher, who is a substantial man, and hath a proper apparatus for this purpose, generally carries with him five or six linnets, (of which more are caught than any singing bird), two gold-finches, two green-finches, one wood-lark, one red poll, a yellowhammer, tit-lark, and aberdavine, and perhaps a bullfinch; these are placed at small distances from the nets in little cages. He hath, besides, what are called flour-birds, which are placed within the nets, are raised upon the flour (b), and gently let down at the time the wild bird approaches them. These generally consist of the linnet, the gold-linch, and the green-linch, which are secured to the flour by what is called a brace (c); a contrivance that secures the birds without doing any injury to their plumage.
It having been found that there is a superiority between bird and bird, from the one being more in song than the other; the bird-catchers contrive that their call-birds should moult before the usual time. They, therefore, in June or July, put them into a close box, under
(a) A small species of lark, but which is inferior to other birds of that genus in point of song.
(b) A moveable perch to which the bird is tied, and which the bird-catcher can raise at pleasure by means of a long string fastened to it.
(c) A sort of bandage, formed of a slender silken string that is fastened round the bird's body, and under the wings, in so artful a manner as to hinder the bird from being hurt, let it flutter ever so much in the raising. under two or three folds of blankets, and leave their dung in the cage to raise a greater heat; in which state they continue, being perhaps examined but once a week to have fresh water. As for food, the air is so putrid, that they eat little during the whole state of confinement, which lasts about a month. The birds frequently die under the operation; and hence the value of a stoppered bird rises greatly. When the bird hath thus prematurely moulted, he is in fong whilst the wild birds are out of fong, and his note is louder and more piercing than that of a wild one; but it is not only in his note he receives an alteration, the plumage is equally improved. The black and yellow in the wings of the gold-finch, for example, become deeper and more vivid, together with a most beautiful gloa, which is not to be seen in the wild bird. The bill, which in the latter is likewise black at the end, in the stoppered-bird becomes white and more taper, as do its legs: in short, there is as much difference between a wild and a stoppered-bird, as there is between a horse which is kept in body-clothes or at grass.
When the bird-catcher hath laid his nets, he dispenses of his call-birds at proper intervals. It must be owned, that there is a most malicious joy in these call-birds to bring the wild ones into the same state of captivity; which may likewise be observed with regard to the decoy-ducks. See Decoy.
Their flight, and hearing, infinitely excels that of the bird-catcher. The instant that the (p) wild birds are perceived, notice is given by one to the rest of the call-birds, (as it is by the first hound that hits on the scent, to the rest of the pack); after which, follows the same sort of tumultuous ecstasy and joy. The call-birds, while the bird is at a distance, do not sing as a bird does in a chamber; they invite the wild ones by what the bird-catchers call short-jerks, which, when the birds are good, may be heard at a great distance. The tendency by this call or invitation is so great, that the wild bird is stoppered in its course of flight; and, if not already acquainted with the nets (e), lights boldly within 20 yards of perhaps three or four bird-catchers, on a spot which otherwise it would not have taken the least notice of. Nay, it frequently happens, that if half a flock only are caught, the remaining half will immediately afterwards light in the nets, and share the same fate; and should only one bird escape, that bird will suffer itself to be pulled at till it is caught; such a fascinating power have the call-birds.
While we are on this subject of the jerking of birds, we cannot omit mentioning, that the bird-catchers frequently lay considerable wagers whose call-bird can jerk the longest, as that determines the superiority. They place them opposite to each other, by an inch of candle; and the bird who jerks the oftener, before the candle is burnt out, wins the wager. We have been informed, that there have been instances of a bird's giving 170 jerks in a quarter of an hour; and we have known a linnet, in such a trial, persevere in its emulation till it swooned from the perch; thus, as Pliny says of the nightingale, vita morte finit sepe vitam, spiritu prius deficiente quam canto*. It may be here observed, that
(p) It may be also observed, that the moment they see a hawk, they communicate the alarm to each other by a plaintive note; nor will they then jerk or call though the wild birds are near.
(e) A bird, acquainted with the nets, is by the bird-catchers termed a sharper; which they endeavour to drive away, as they can have no sport whilst it continues near them.
birds when near each other, and in fight, seldom jerk or sing. They either fight, or use short and wheedling calls; the jerking of these call-birds, therefore, face to face, is a most extraordinary instance of contention for superiority in song.
To these we may add a few particulars that fell within our notice during our inquiries among the bird-catchers; such as, that they immediately kill the hens of every species of birds they take, being incapable of singing, as also being inferior in plumage; the pippets likewise are indiscriminately destroyed, as the cock does not sing well; they sell the dead birds for three-pence or four-pence a dozen. These small birds are so good, that we are surprised the luxury of the age neglects so delicate an acquisition to the table. The modern Italians are fond of small birds, which they eat under the common name of beccaficos; and the dear rate a Roman tragedian paid for one dish of singing-birds is well known; (see the article Euph.)
Another particular we learned, in conversation with a London bird-catcher, was the vast price that is sometimes given for a single fong-bird, which had not learned to whistle tunes. The greatest sum we heard of, was five guineas for a chaffinch, that had a particular and uncommon note, under which it was intended to train others; and we also heard of five pounds ten shillings being given for a call-bird linnet.
A third singular circumstance, which confirms an observation of Linnaeus, is, that the male chaffinches fly by themselves, and in the flight precede the females; but this is not peculiar to the chaffinches. When the tit-larks are caught in the beginning of the season, it frequently happens, that forty are taken and not one female among them; and probably the same would be observed with regard to other birds, (as has been done with relation to the wheat-eat), if they were attended to. An experienced and intelligent bird-catcher informed us, that such birds as breed twice a year, generally have in their first brood a majority of males, and in their second, of females, which may in part account for the above observation.
We must not omit mention of the bullfinch, though it does not properly come under the title of a finging-bird, or a bird of flight, as it does not often move farther than from hedge to hedge; yet, as the bird falls well on account of its learning to whistle tunes, and sometimes flies over the fields where the nets are laid, the bird-catchers have often a call-bird to ensnare it, though most of them can imitate the call with their mouths. It is remarkable with regard to this bird, that the female answers the purpose of a call-bird as well as the male, which is not experienced in any other bird taken by the London bird-catchers.
The nightingale is not a bird of flight, in the sense the bird-catchers use this term. Like the robin, wren, and many other singing birds, it only moves from hedge to hedge, and does not take the periodical flights in October and March. The persons who catch these birds, make use of small trap-nets, without call-birds; and are considered as inferior in dignity to other bird-catchers, who will not rank with them. The arrival of the nightingale is expected by the trappers in the neighbourhood of London, the first week in April; at the beginning, none but cocks are taken; but in a few days the hens make their appearance, generally by themselves, though sometimes a few males come along with them. The latter are distinguished from the females not only by their superior size, but by a great swelling of their vent, which commences on the first arrival of the hens. They are caught in a net trap, the bottom of which is surrounded with an iron ring; the net itself is rather larger than a cabbage net. When the trappers hear or see them, they throw some fresh mould under the place, and bait the trap with a mealworm from the baker's shop. Ten or a dozen nightingales have been thus caught in a day.