BIRD, in zoology. See Avas.
than-catching, the art of taking birds or wild fbwl, whether for food, for the pleasure of their song, or for their de struction, as pernicious to the husband man, &c. The methods are, by bird-lime, nets, decoys, &c. In the suburbs of Lon don are several weavers and other trades men, who, during the months of October and March, get their livelihood by an in genious, and, we may say, a scientific me thod of bird-catching, which is totally un known 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 of 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-catch ers going to more than 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 at tended with a very considerable expense. The nets are a most ingenious piece of mechanism ; they are generally twelve yards and a half long, and two yards and a half wide ; and no one on bare inspec tion would imagine that a bird, who is so very quick in all its motions, could be eatched by the nets flapping over each other, till lie becomes an 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 he noted, also, that the several species of birds of flight do not make their appearance pre• cisely at the same time during the months or September, October, and November. The pippet, a small species of lark, 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 easi ly to be caught, or in any numbers at any other time, and more particularly the pip pet and the woodlark. These birds, dur ing 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, how ever, is so inconsiderable, that the bird catchers always take up their nets at noon.
The bird-catcher generally carries with him five or six linnets, of which more are caught than any singing bird, two gold finches, two greenfinches, one woodlark, one redpoll, yellowhammer, titlark, and aberdevine, and perhaps a bullfinch ; these are placed at small distances front the nets, in little cages. He has besides what are called flur-birds, which are pia ced within the nets, are raised upon the flur, or moveable perch, and gently let down at the time the wild bird approach es them. These generally consist of the linnet, the goldfinch, and the greenfinch, which are secured to the flur by what is called a brace or bandage, a contrivance which secures the birds without doing any injury to their plumage. When the bird-catcher has laid his nets, he disposes of his call birds at proper intervals. It must be owned that there is most mali cious 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 sight and hearing infinitely excel that of the bird-catcher. The instant that the 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 ex tacy 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 ascendency by this call or invitation is so great, that the wild bird is stopped in its course of flight ; and, if not already ac quainted with the nets, lights boldly with in 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.