Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1880-11-25
particular field will year after year be q

particular field will year after year be .
good camping ground. In such matters
priority gives preference and sou will see
the biro.catcher outs IN the morning,
SO as to be first on the ground, making his
way through the halt-lit streets, contem.
plated by the local policeman first with
suspicion as burglar and then with con
tempt AS bird.catcher. Arrived on the
SPOT, his preparations take little time
The nets, run upon poles, are spread on
the ground like pair OF folding doors
with an interval between, and the ropes
are so arranged that sudden chuck will
cause the doors TO rise as if they we're
hinged on the sod, ana TO fall then one
over the other on the intervening grass
To set the nets Is the first step in the cam.
paign, and, with frozen fingers and imper-
feet light, il is not such very easy work
But time presses; already flight of birds
has passed overhead, and, though il is too
dark TO see them, the twitter shows that
they are gold-tnches. In the vacant space
between the nets three or four pegs are
driven into the ground, each supplied with
cross switch at about q foot and a half
height, which looks like miniature gal
lows. To heigEten the illusion, at the end
of the switch an unfortunate teathered
convict hangs by the leg. For, after he
has spread his nets and fixed his pegs, the
cstcher's next care is TO distribute his de-
coys, of which he has three kinds, com.
mon birds, brace (or bressO birds, and
call birds. The call birds are the tenants
Of the little cages, and they are placed out
all round the field ST d good distance from
the nets; they are mere singing. birds,
healthy, tame, and in full cong. The
brace.birds are more special. A wire Los
been twisted round the wings and then
over TIE back till both ends meet on the
breast bone, where they are finished of In
a little eye. a piece of string is tied to
this, and the bird is free to soar up In the
cir and tlutter down when 1t has reached
the limit OF its .ether. So attached, he is
tied to the gallows, but has rope enough
TO hop pesceably on the sod. The COM
mon bird is also tied by the wing or the
leg or the neck, and he, too, has a few
moments peace. But the long switch
which holds these captive birds, though
it lies on the ground, can in moment by
pulling a string be lifted upright, when
it sends The little brace. bird tluttering up
into the air, and rot unfrequeptly dislc:
Gates The wing OF its companion. With
retires to al adjoining hedge and waits
his luck. In one hand he holds the rope
which will bring up the nets in moment,
anu in another the Irvine which will
set the switches in motion and
flutter all the captives. 1t is bitter.
cold and barely dawn, and ne may hsve
to wait for hours. But suddenly flock
of birds com sweeping overhead, skirt
the field and then make of quick for the
sea, as if they had pressing appoint
ment somewhere on the French coast.
They are gone, hopelessly gone, as you
think, but the traprer knows better. La
gives loud melodious whistle ~ the aid
of q little tin call, which he repeats and
modifies. The unfortunate golGiinches
pause in their flight and seem to delibe.
rate. From each Of the little cages q
trsitorous prisoner pipes loud and clear,
and the victims come nearer the net; then
Il G trapper pulls the switch strings, and
the Lert little brace bird tlutters up over
the thistle, and the broken winged chat
finch is in manifest distress; and impel.
led, partly by curiosity, partly by sympa.
thy, partly by hunger, the whole flock
swoop suddenly down on the grass. In
moment the net is over them and the trap.
per has swept all the cocks In the long
cage, has killed the hens, has opened his
nets, and is back again at his post, pluck
ing the yet warm bodies of the birds he
has killed, which he will sell for "larks"
to the Brighton poulterers at fourpence a
dozen on his way home.