viscid substance, prepared in different ways. The most common bird-lime is made from holly-bark, boiled ten or twelve hours; when the green coat being separated from the other, it is covered up for a fortnight in a moist place; then pounded into a tough paste, so that no fibres of the wood are discernible, and washed in a running stream till no motes appear. It is next put up to ferment for four or five days, and skimmed as often as anything rises to the surface. To prepare it for use, a third part of nut-oil, or thin grease, must be incorporated with it over the fire.

The juice of holly-bark is a very peculiar substance. But if trials were made, it seems probable that many other juices would be found to have the same clammy nature. The mistletoe affords a juice even superior to that of the holly; and if a young shoot of the common alder be cut through there will issue a stringy juice capable of being drawn out into threads, and which will follow the knife like bird-lime or the juice of the holly. In this tree it seems to be lodged, not in the bark, but in certain vessels just within the circle of the wood. The roots of all the hyacinths also afford a tough and stringy juice of the same kind; and so does the asphodel, the narcissus, and the black bryony root, in a surprising quantity.

When twigs, smeared with bird-lime, are to be put in places subject to wet, the common bird-lime is apt to have its force soon taken away. It is necessary, therefore, to have recourse to a particular sort, which, from its property of bearing water unhurt, is called water bird-lime, and is prepared thus: Take a pound of strong and good bird-lime; wash it thoroughly in spring-water, till the hardness is all removed; and then beat it well, that the water may be separated. When it is dry put it into an earthen pot, and add to it as much capon's grease as will make it run. Then add two spoonfuls of strong vinegar, one spoonful of oil, and a small quantity of Venice turpentine. Let the whole boil for some minutes over a moderate fire, stirring it all the time. Whenever it is required for use it ought to be warmed again. This is the best sort of bird-lime for snipes and other birds that love wet places.

The most successful method of using the common birdlime is this: Cut down the main branch or bough of any bushy tree whose twigs are thick, straight, long, and smooth, and have neither knots nor prickles. The willow and the birch-tree afford the best of this kind. Let all the superfluous shoots be trimmed off, and the twigs all made neat and clean; they must all be well covered with the bird-lime, within four inches of the bottom; but the main bough from which they grow must not be touched with the lime. No part of the bark where the lime should come must be left bare; but it is a nice matter to lay it on properly; for if it be too thick it will give the birds a distaste, and they will not come near it; and if there be too little of it, it will not hold them when they are there. When the bush is thus prepared, it may be set up wherever birds have been observed to congregate. If it be used in summer, it may be placed in the midst of a quickset hedge, or in groves, bushes, or white thorn trees, near fields of corn, hemp, flax, and the like; and in the winter the proper places are about stacks of corn, cottages, barns, and such situations. When the lime-bush is thus planted, the sportsman must stand as near it as he can without being discovered; and if he can imitate the natural calls of different species, his chances of success will be so much the greater. When one bird is thus enticed to the bush, and hung fast, the business of the sportsman is not to run up to take it, but to be patient; for it will hang itself more fast by its struggling to get away; and its fluttering will bring more to the bush, so that several may be taken together. The best time of the day for this sport is from sunrise to ten o'clock, and from one to sunset. Another very good method of bringing the birds together is by a stake; a bat makes a very good stake; but it must be fastened so as to be in sight at a distance. An owl is a still better stake; for this bird never goes abroad but it is followed by all the small birds in the neighbourhood. They will gather together in great numbers about it; and having no convenient place to sit on but the lime-bush, will be taken in great numbers. If a living owl or bat is not to be had, a stuffed or preserved skin will serve the purpose. Some have even used the image of an owl carved in wood, and painted in the natural colours.