The manner of bird-catching, in the Feroe islands, is very strange and hazard ous. Necessity compels mankind to won derful attempts. The cliffs which con tain the objects of their search are often two hundred fathoms in height, and are attempted from above and below. In the first case, the fowlers provide themselves with a rope eighty or one hundred fathoms in length. The fowler fastens one end about his waist and between his legs, re commends himself to the protection of the Almighty, and is lowered down by six others, who place a piece of timber on the margin of the rock, to preserve the rope from wearing against the sharp edge. They have besides a small line fastened to the body of the adventurer, by which he gives signals that they may lower or raise him, or shift him from place to place. The last operation is attended with great danger, by the loosening of the stones, which often fall on his head, and would in fallibly destroy him, was he not protected by a strong thick cap ; but even that is found unequal to save him against the weight of the larger fragments of rock. The dexterity of the fowlers is amazing ; they will place their feet against the front of the precipice, and dart themselves some fathoms from it, with a cool eye survey the places where the birds nestle, and again shoot into their haunts. In some places the birds lodge in deep re cesses : the fowler will alight there, dis engage himself from the rope, fix it to a stone, and at his leisure collect the booty, fasten it to his girdle, and resume his pendulous seat. At times he will again spring from the rock, and in that attitude, with a fowling net placed at the end of a staff, catch the old birds which are flying to and from their retreats. When he has finished his dreadful employment, he gives a signal to his friends above, who pull him up, and share the hard-earned profit. The feathers are preserved for exporta tion; the flesh is partly eaten fresh ; but the greater portion dried for winter's pro vision.
The fowling from below has its share of danger. The party goes on the expe dition in a boat ; and when it has attained the base of the precipice, one of the most daring, having fastened a rope about his waist, and furnished himself with a long pole with an iron hook at one end, either climbs, or is thrust up by his companions, who place a pole under his breech, to the next footing spot he can reach. He, by
means of the rope, brings up one of the boat's crew ; the rest are drawn up in the same manner, and each is furnished with his rope and fowling-staff. They conti nue their progress upwards, in the same manner, till they arrive at the region of birds, and wander about the face of the cliff in search of them. They then act in pairs ; one fastens himself to the end of his associate's rope, and in places where birds have nestled beneath his foot ing, he permits himself to be lowered down, depending for his security on the strength of his companion, who has to haul him up again ; but it sometimes hap pens, that the person above is overpower ed by the weight, and both inevitably pe rish. They fling the fowl into the boat, which attends their motions, and receives the booty. They often pass seven or eight days in this tremendous employ ment, and lodge in the crannies which they find in the face of the precipice.
Birds are likewise caught in traps of various kinds; and frequently by nooses of hairs. In this way great numbers of wheat-ears are annually taken on the va rious downs of England, particularly in Sussex. Small holes are dug by the shepherds in the ground, in each of which is placed a noose. Whenever a cloud ob scures the sun, these timid birds seek for shelter under a stone, or creep into any holes that present themselves ; and they are thus ensnared by the nooses, which flisten around their necks. Woodcocks and snipes are taken likewise by nooses of horsehair placed along their paths, in marshes and moist grounds. Wild ducks, in all their varieties, are taken in vast numbers every winter on our coasts, by means of decoys. See Grouse and partridges are taken by means of nets, either at night, when rest ing on the ground, by observing where they alight, and, when settled, drawing a net over that part of the field ; or, in the day, a very steady dog is used to point at them. The attention of the birds being thus fixed, two persons, drawing the two extremities of a large net, pass it over them, and thus secure a whole pack of grouse, or covey of partridges, at once.
Pheasants are sometimes taken by night, by holding flaming sulphur under the trees on which they are observed to perch, the suffocating effluvia of which makes them fall senseless.