Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1874-10-06
NUMBER 3S.

and the net sprung. When the rope is
fastened on these poles it is stretched
directly across the bed, the length of the
net being just the length OF the bed. The
outside of the net is then pinned along
the outside of the bed where the grain is
scattered. The inside OF the net, or the
one to which the long rope is fastened, is
then carried or pushed back over the
grain to the outside, the poles TO which
the rope is airached being considerably
bent. 1t is prevented from flying back
over the bed by two short sticks called
''ny staiis," so arranged that it can be dis
placed by sharp pul. upon the rope from
the bough house. This is done ut the
proper moment and tle net flies forward
over about one. half the bed, and oil Of
that portion where the grain is scattered
and where of course the birds are feeding.
When the inside edge of the net is carried
back over the grain - the outer edge OF
the bed, it is folded down in Is small rs
possible, and earth or dust sprinkled
lightly over to hide il from the sharp eyes
of the birds. Alter the net is arranged.
the grain from the trough is put upon the
bed. which is carefully swept and all
scattered grains Of corn picked and placed
along the edge behind which the net lies
concealed. When every thing is in read
mess the bird catcher retires TO The bough
house where he has nothing to do but wait
for the arrival OF the game.
They come by twos, ,threes and frequent.
ly nocks of dozen or more. They ire-
quently seem 10th 10 leave the stand and
90 down upon The bed, but when one
ventures the majority commonly follow
at once. When on the bed they they are
very easily frightened, the swapping OF
twig in the boush house, the arrival of
more birds or particularly the appearance
of a hawk will create the greatest con-
slernaiion and scatter them in the widest
manner. The bird catcher with his eye
to opening in the boush house closely
watches their movements and when they
commence to 90 down, grasps the rope
with both hands.
lie waits until the most of them are
upon the bed or until he fears they will
flush. aud then giving the rope sharp
hard pull. dashes out fom the house and
upon the nest. One, two and even three
hundred birds arc sometimes taken at one
time with q ne! not larger than the enc ot
which | have spoken. and any ono can
imagine what an exciting scene it would
present The struggling birds are taken
one 10y one from under the snare and
placed in the boxes. the net again prepar-
ed, all the feathers carefully picked from
the bed and the same scene enacted. The
Aliens have already taken from their two
beds nearly one thousand birds. After
catching they convey them to their homes.
where in one corner of the stable they
have place prepared for them. Here
they receive the same food as when being
baited upon the beds. They have the best
of appetites, and after iortnisht's con-
hnemeut will be IS fat ~ it seem possible
for 4 bird to be-
Some attribute the success OF the Aliens
to their large experience and superior
skill but they claim it is largly owing TO
their use OF what they term pigeon scent.
All pigeon catchers use, we believe. some.
thing which they put upon their grain !or
the purpose of attracting the birds. and
rum anise and other articles are among
the ones employed; but the Aliens have
a mixture of their own, which they claim
/ il superior to all others, and which, when
the birds have once tasted. they will not
willingly leave. Whether that be whim
or not ii certainly is fact that they viii
catch birds by the score where no one else
can find any.