In Mexico and China aquatic birds are taken by the natives in the following very simple but ingeni ous manner. Empty gourds are left continually floating on the lakes, to which the birds resort, that they may be accustomed to approach them without alarm. The bird•catcher enters the lake with his 13,.dy under water, and his head covered with a gourd ; quietly advances to the ducks-and geese that.are swimming on the surface, and pulls them by feet under the water, securing in this manner as many as he can carry away.
In some of the remoter parts of Russia, great quantities of gelenottes or grous are taken by a large funnel, or inverted cone, which is made of long birch twigs stuck in the earth, very near to each other, and forming an at the top, about a yard in dizaiLter. In this opening is placed a wheel made of two circles, intersecting each other, surrounded with straw or ears of corn, and turning on an axis fasten ed to the sides of the funnel. Above the cone is a cross stick, which rests upon two long forks planted upright, and from which is suspended a bundle of ears of corn. The birds, first of all, perch upon this transverse piece of wood ; and then descend to the corn placed upon the wheel. As soon as they alight upon one of the projecting parts of the circles, the wheel turns, and they fall headlong to the bot tom of the trap.
In different parts of Italy, the wild pigeons, on their return from the northern and western countries of Europe, are caught by means of nets, which are stretched across the hollows of the mountains, through which the birds direct their course. These nets are hung upon trees or lofty poles, planted for the purpose ; and, by means of a pulley, are made to drop in a heap upon the slightest impulse. A watchman is stationed, on a lofty circular turret, at a little distance from the place where the snare is laid ; and when lie observes the doves approaching, he slings a stone, or shoots an arrow trimmed with hawk's feathers above them. Upon this, the whole flock, apprehending the object as it is falling do.wn to be a bird of prey, descend with the utmost speed, to pass under the trees ; dash in a body against the net, which instantly falls to the ground ; and are thus entangled in such a manner, as to become art easy prey to the active hand of the fowler. See a variety of other modes of bird-catching detailed in Pennant's Birds of Great Britain. Encyclopedic Methodique. Arts et Metiers, tom. v. p. 373. Reau mur, Histoire des Insectes, tom. vi. Buffon, His toire des Oiseazza., particularly the article's Allouette Spipolette, Rouge.,gorge„ llIotteux on cul-blanc, Me sange, Beeasse, (q) BIRD-LimE, a glutinous matter of a very pecu liar nature, is employed for catching birds, mice, and other vermin ; and prepared from different sub stances, in a great variety of ways. In former times, it was made chiefly from the berries of the misletoe of oak, which were first boiled in water, then pound ed, and the water poured off, in order to carry away the seeds and rhind. In England, it is gene
rally made from the middle bark of holly, which is boiled in water, seven or eight hours, till it become soft and tender. After the water has been drained off, it is laid in masses in the earth, covered with stones, and left to ferment during a fortnight or three weeks. When thus changed into a kind of muci lage, it is taken from the pit ; pounded in mortars till reduced to a paste ; washed and kneaded in river water till freed from all extraneous matters. It is left in earthen vessels, four or five days, to purify itself by fermentation ; and is then put up for use or commerce. In every kingdom, however, and almost in every district, there is a different mode of prepa ring this substance ; and some profess to make a se cret of their peculiar process. The mode employed by M. Bouillon Lagrange is, to take a sufficient quantity of the second bark of holly, to bruise it well, and boil it in water four or five hours ; to pour off the water, to deposit the bark in pits in earthen pans, to moisten it from time to time with a little water ; to let it remain till it become viscous, and to e. cleanse it by washing, when it has obtained a proper degree of fermentation.
Bird-lime may be procured from the young shoots of the common elder tree, and from the second bark of the viburnum, or wild vine ; from the roots of hy acinth, narcissus, asphodel, and black bryony ; from slugs, snails, and the pods of certain caterpillars ; but the best is that which is made from the prickly holly, and which is of a greenish colour. That which comes from Italy is made from the misletoe ; and that from Damascus is supposed to be procured from sebestins, as their kernels are frequently found amongst it. The bird-lime of commerce, in general, is seldom in a pure state, and is frequently a mixture of vegetable and animal substances.
The common kind of bird-lime readily loses its te nacious quality, when long exposed to the air, and particularly when subjected to moisture ; but it may be rendered capable of sustaining the action of wa ter, by the following process : Take a pound of common bird-lime, and wash it thoroughly with spring water, till its hardness be destroyed. Then pound it completely, that its water may be entirely separated ; and, when it is well dried, put it into an earthen pot, with as much goose or capon's grease as will make it run. Add two spoonfuls of strong vinegar, one of oil, and a small quantity of Venice turpentine ; and let the whole boil for a few minutes over a moderate fire, stirring it all the time. It is then ready for use ; and is the only kind, that can be successfully used for snipes and other birds, which frequent wet situations.