The experienc'd fowler: or, The gentleman, citizen, and country-man's pleasant and profitable recreation Containing, I. The true art of taking water and land fowl, with divers kinds of nets, lime-twigs lime-bushes, and how to make the best bird-lime. II. Directions for bat-fowling, lowbelling, tramelling, and driving fowl, how to find their haunts, and take them with springes, snares, &c. III. An exact method for using the fowling-piece at a true level, to shoot at the water, ground, bush or flying. ... By J. S Gent.

The experienc'd fowler: or, The gentleman, citizen, and country-man's pleasant and profitable recreation Containing, I. The true art of taking water and land fowl, with divers kinds of nets, lime-twigs lime-bushes, and how to make the best bird-lime. II. Directions for bat-fowling, lowbelling, tramelling, and driving fowl, how to find their haunts, and take them with springes, snares, &c. III. An exact method for using the fowling-piece at a true level, to shoot at the water, ground, bush or flying. ... By J. S Gent.

Table of contents

Title page

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THE PREFACE TO THE READER.

ADVERTISEMENT.

OF FOWL, and their Haunts, &c.

The ordering of the Net to take large Water-fowl.

To take ſmall Water-fowl with folding Day-nets, &c.

Land-fowl their Haunts, and how to take them with Nets.

To drive Larks and other Birds into Nets: To place Nets in Woods, Coppices, &c. for Pheaſants, and other Fowl that have there their Haunts.

Of taking Sparrows, &c. with the Clap-Net.

Partridges Haunts, and of ſetting them.

Another way to take Patridge with the Net.

The way of driving Partridges and Quails into the Tramelling Net.

Sundry ways for taking Pheaſants, with their Haunts, &c.

To drive young Pheaſants, or Pheaſant-Pouts.

To Fowl with the Piece and Stalking-Horſe.

A way in general to take Birds with the Crown-net.

An excellent way to dare and take Larks in the day-time.

To know good Powder, caſt round Shot of different ſizes, charge your Fowling-pieco, and cleanſe it when foul.

Directions to make the beſt Birdlime for Land and Water, and how to keep it from Freezing.

To take Water Fowl of divers kinds, with Lime-Rods, the manner of ordering and placing them to the beſt advantage, &c.

Another way to take Land and Water Fowl, viz. with Lime-ſtrings.

Snipes, how to take with Water-Bird-lime, &c. alſo Larks.

Land-Fowl not mentioned, how to take them with Bird lime; and firſt the Pheaſant.

How to take Pigeons, Crows, Pyes, &c. with Lime-twigs.

To take Feldfars and Stares with Bird-lime.

How to Lime Partridges.

To take all ſorts of ſmall Birds with the Lime-buſh or Twigs.

Another excellent way to take ſmall Birdg.

To take Water-Fowl with Snares and Sprindges.

The manner of Bat-Fowling.

Low-belling.

To take Birds another way, by Lights.

To take Birds with the Trammel.

The Art of taking Fowl with Baits, and of Trap-Cages.

To make Birds Sing in Autumn and Winter.

Diſeaſes incident to Singing-Birds, and their Cures.

Diſeaſes in Poultry, and their Remedies.

For the ſtopping in the Belly.

For the Crow-trodden.

Divers uſeful Experiments, relating to Poultry.

For a Hen that Crows.

To make a Hen Lay ſoon, and faſt.

To keep a Hen from Sitting.

To prevent a Hens eating her Eggs.

To keep a Hen from growing too Fat.

How to make a Capon Lead and Brood Chickens.

The Speedieſt way to Fatten Poultry.

To Feed, and Cram Capons, Fat them, &c.

To Feed, and Fatten Turkeys and Geeſe.

To Feed, and Fatten Hens, Pullets, and Cocks.

To Fatten Duck• Wild or Tame.

Swans, their Feeding.

To Fatten Pigeons, Partridges, Pheaſants, &c.

Godwits, Knots, Grey, Plover or Curlews.

The order of Feeding Black birds, Thruſhes, Fieldſars, Larks, and other ſmall Birds.

To Fatten Herons, Puits, Gulls and Bitterns.

Pea cocks and Pea hens.

THE Compleat Marketer: OR, Rules to know all ſorts of Poulterers Ware, whither Young or Old, New or Stale, by unerring Signs and Tokens.

Four-footed Creatures uſually ſold at the Poulterers, to know whether young or old, new or ſtale.

How to deſtroy Vermin, or ſuch offenſive Creatures, as are deſtructive to Fiſh, Fowl, Cattel, &c.

The Compleat Vermin-killer, ſhewing a Ready way to deſtroy all ſorts of Vermin.

To deſtroy Mice and Rats.

To ſcare away Mice and Rats.

To gather Rats and Mice together.

To make Rats and Mice blind.

To kill Weaſles.

To gather Weaſles.

To drive away Weaſles.

To prevent their ſucking Eggs.

To kill Moles.

To gather Moles together.

To drive Snakes or Adders out of any Out-houſes, Gardens, or Ground.

To kill Snakes or Adders.

To deſtroy the Pole-cat and Fox.

Piſmires to deſtroy.

To kill Slugs, or Snails.

To deſtroy Earwigs.

To deſtroy Catterpillars.

To deſtroy Bugs.

To deſtroy Fleas and Lice.

To deſtroy Nits, Head-lice, Crab-lice, &c.

To deſtroy Flies.

The Supplement.

To take young Hawks.

To take the Fox with a Hook.

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THE Experienc'd Fowler: OR, THE Gentleman, Citizen, and Country-man's Pleaſant and Profitable RECREATION. Containing, 1. The True Art of taking Water and Land Fowl, with divers kinds of Nets, Lime-Twigs Lime-Buſhes, and how to make the beſt Bird-Lime. II. Directions for Bat-Fowling, Lowbelling, Tramelling, and driving Fowl, how to find their Haunts, and take them with Springes, Snares, &c. III. An exact Method for uſing the Fowling-Piece at a true level, to ſhoot at the Water, Ground, Buſh, or Flying. IV. How to make Shot, proportion the Charge, and know good Powder; with the proper uſe of the Stalking-Horſe, Buſh, Hedge, and how to manage them. V. Of Singing-Birds, their Diſeaſes and Cure. VI. How to diſtinguiſh all ſorts of Poulterers Ware, whether Old or Young, Freſh or Stale, full of Eggs or not. Alſo to well Order, and ſpeedily Fat Tame and Wild Fowl. VII. To which is added Directions for deſtroying all manner of Vermine.

By J. S. Gent.

London, Printed for Jo. Sprint, at the Blue Bell, and G. Conyers, at the Ring, in Little Britain 1697.

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THE PREFACE TO THE READER.

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READER,

IN this ſmall Tract I have laboured to ſet forth the beſt Methods to improve your Recreation in the Art of Fowling, that it may truly be ſaid to be a Pleaſure, ſeparated from the extraordinary fatigue and toil, ſome put themſelves to, on this occaſion: I have not only there inſerted my own Experience, but with them have laid down the Experiments of the moſt cunning and dexterous Proficients.

There is beſide Pleaſure, Profit in this Exerciſe, the Air affording [Page] you various Dainties to furniſh your Table with, that the Earth and Water ſeem to conſent you ſhould feaſt to your contentment, if you will be induſtrious in taking what in great plenty they afford: This Exerciſe moderately uſed, is alſo very much conducing to Health, by being up early, and breathing the freſh Morning Airs, and the Earths aſcending Fragrancy.

I have gone through this Subject in all its parts, not only to direct you how to take the Fowl of the Water and Land, but what Materials you muſt order and make to that purpoſe, with the exact way of managing them to the beſt advantage not to fail of ſucceſs. Nor is this all.

I have herein treated of Singing Birds, and the ſeveral Diſeaſes incident to them; alſo their Cures, for want of which Knowledge many fine Birds have been loſt, to the perplexity [Page] of the Owners. I have done the like in relation to domeſtick Poultry, with a ſpeedy way to fatten Tame and Wild-fowl, and that ſuch as buy them alive or dead, may not be impoſed upon or cheated. I have likewiſe ſet down unerring Directions to know their Age or Youngneſs, Newneſs or Staleneſs, and whether with Egg or no; ſo that in this only you may in one Marketing ſave more than the Price of the Book: And becauſe nothing ſhould be wanting to make it compleat, I have added to it the way to deſtroy all ſorts of Vermin in Houſes, Barns, Fields, or ſuch as afflict the Bodys of Men. So hoping it will not fail to pleaſe, I humbly ſubmit it to your peruſal and Candor, who am

Your Friend to ſerve You, J. S.

ADVERTISEMENT.

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THe True Art of Angling: Or, the beſt way of Finding and Taking all ſorts of Fiſh with all ſorts of Baits; with ſeveral other Secrets concerning the ſaid Recreation; the like never made publick before. By J. S. Gent.

The Pious Man's Directions, ſhewing how to walk with God all his Days. By a Well-wiſher of the Whole Duty of Man.

Both printed for S. Sprint and G. Conyers.

The Compleat Cook: Or, the whole Art of Cookery; deſcribing the Beſt and Neweſt Ways of Dreſſing all ſorts of Fleſh, Fiſh, and Fowl; likewiſe their proper Sauces and Garniſhes: With Inſtructions how to make the moſt approved Soops and Potages. By ſeveral eminent Cooks.

Printed for G▪ Conyers.

OF FOWL, and their Haunts, &c.

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FOWLING is not only a pleaſant but profitable Recreation, contributing to the Health of the Body in its Exerciſe, and furniſhing the Table with Dainties. Seeing then moſt are unskilful in the true method of it, I have thought neceſſary, for the accommodating Gentlemen and others, to lay down ſuch Rules and Directions in ſo eaſie and intelligible a manner, as cannot but be pleaſing and agreeable [Page] to all Perſons who deſire to be skilled herein.

As for the Haunts of Wild-Fowl, though it is more uſual in one place than another, yet they are not always certain; though they have eſpecially at Seaſons their Day-haunts and Night-haunts; for particularly the greater ſort, ſuch as are called Game, and worth taking, retire in the day-time to ſome place where they may ſecurely reſt; in the evening they take their beſt feeding, particularly Water-fowl, who are the watchfulleſt and ſhieſt of all others; and theſe then are moſt uſually found at ſmall green Streams,, to which in the day-time they reſort not, unleſs exceſſive hard Weather, or want of Food elſewhere, compel them.

[Page] Theſe Water-fowl are properly thoſe that are called Web-footed, though there is another ſort that much frequent Marſhes and watry places which are not ſo, as the Bittern, Heron, &c. But though theſe peculiarly delight in Fiſh, which makes them reſort where they are moſt likely to find them, they ſwim not as the Wildgooſe, Duck, Widgeon, Moorhen, &c. who delight in Rivers and large deep Waters, and in Winter where the Currents or Springs deny acceſs to the Froſt; and ſo watchful are they, that they have their Scouts on all the Avenues, to give the whole Body notice of any ones approach, and ſpeedily being alarmed, they take wing and fly to ſuch places as they ſuppoſe of more ſafety.

[Page] It is the nature of theſe Water-fowl to keep in Flocks; and when at any time you ſee a ſingle one, or a couple flying, there you may certainly conclude they have been ſeparated from the reſt by ſome great affrightment, and will hardly reſt till they have rejoined them: And this ſeparation often happens, by the beating of the Haggards and Wild-hawks upon the Banks of the Rivers and other Waters, purſuing them as they riſe, which cauſes this alteration. But to come nearer to the purpoſe, I now enter on the ſubject matter.

The ordering of the Net to take large Water-fowl.

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IF you deſign to Net for the Water-fowl of any largeneſs, conſider that your Nets be made of ſtrong firm Pack-thread well twiſted and dried, the Maſhes or Squares large, the better to intangle them; but take this caution along with you, That they be not ſo wide as to loſe the Fowl by its creeping through.

This Net muſt be about two fathom deep, and ſix in length, and with neat ſtrong Cord verge it on each ſide, at either end extend it with long Poles, that the lower ends of the Poles may be faſtned with a piece of Line to two Stakes well driven into the ground, that they may [Page] not give way; and this muſt be done where you obſerve the feeding-places and morning-haunts of ſuch Fowl: Place your Nets about two hours before their uſual time of coming; then at about two or three fathom beyond the Net, in a direct line from the Stakes, faſten one end of the Cord, that the upper part of the Net is extended to or upon, whilſt the other end you hold in your hand, being about ten or twelve fathom long, that when the Game approaches within the compaſs of your Net, on a ſwift or ſudden pull, you may eaſily caſt it over 'em. The Net muſt be flat on the ground; and the better to prevent its being diſcerned, cover it lightly over with ſhort Graſs or Sedge; then make a hiding-place for your ſelf of Fern, Reeds, Flags, or [Page] ſuch as the place affords, that the Fowl ſeeing ſuch-like things elſewhere about them, may be the more familiar with it, and approach the bolder. As for your Stale, if you have any that is a tame one, or one artificially made of the kind you moſtly Net for, it is moſt proper to place it within the verge of the Net, for the better encreaſe of your Sport: And this you may continue till the Sun is riſen about an hour, or ſome-longer, but not much; for then their feeding in thoſe places is over, till a little before Sun-ſet again.

If your Net deſign'd for great Fowl be very large, you cannot conveniently have a pair of Draw-nets, unleſs ſome one help you; for one will be as much as you can manage and conveniently throw over the Fowl: But [Page] for the ſmaller ſort, a pair of Draw-nets may be proper enough, and well managed, in manner and form as you ſee in the following Figure.

To take ſmall Water-fowl with folding Day-nets, &c.

IN Netting for the ſmaller ſort of Water-fowl, they muſt be in length proportionable to the bredth of the Water you Net in, and about two foot and a half deep: This may be of ſmaller Maſhes than the former, and the Pack-thread ſomewhat leſs, that neither the Fowl can get thro' the Squares, nor break its way; and line this Net on either ſide with falſe Nets, whoſe Maſhes may be 18 inches Square; ſo that the Fowl ſtriking and paſſing thro' the firſt Net, may be entangled between them both. [Page]

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[Page] This Net muſt be ſtaked athwart the River, or Pond, and the bottom plummed ſo, that it may ſink about ſix Inches under water, and the upper part by ſtraining be ſlantwiſe againſt the Current, where there is one and about two foot above the Water, and faſten the String that guides the upper part of the Net to a ſmall yielding Twig, the better for its giving way when the Fowl ſtrikes againſt the Net, ſo that ſhe may the more intangle: You may have ſeveral of theſe Nets placed at a convenient diſtance on a River, and if the Fowl fall near them, you cannot miſs of Game: And where the Fowl lie remote from your Nets, you may drive or ſcare them to that place, by ſhooting or making a noiſe with any loud Inſtrument that may fray them from [Page] thoſe Marſhes or Pools to the River.

Theſe are the propereſt ways by Nets to take them, though there are many more which in their proper places I ſhall have occaſion to ſpeak of, and lay down ſuitable Rules and Directions to anſwer your deſire.

Land-fowl their Haunts, and how to take them with Nets.

LAnd-fowl are not ſo ſhy as Water-fowl, as oftener ſeeing Men; yet are they cunning enough to avoid danger. Thoſe that are properly termed Land-fowl, and worth taking, are found in Woods, Copices, Heaths, Fields, &c. [Page] where they have their ſeveral Haunts, according to their Nature or the Seaſon of the Year; and they principally are Pheaſants, Partridges, Rails, Quails, Pouts, Heath-cocks, Wood-Pidgeons, Black-birds, Field-fares, Stares, Thruſhes, Larks, Puffins, Wheatears, and the like; and thoſe or theſe, or other ſorts that gather in Flights, may be taken in the day-time with Nets.

In ordering this Affair, you muſt conſider what Food they moſt delight in; for it will be proper to bait the place, as well to decoy them into the compaſs and danger of your Net, by a Stale or Bird of the kind you moſtly lay in for. The Maſhes of your Nets muſt be proportionable to the Fowl, that is not big enough for them to eſcape, nor ſo little, that there [Page] will be difficulty in their intangling, and about an inch or a little more, in the ſquare will do. Let the Net be about three fathom in length, and one in depth, verged on either ſide with a ſufficient Cord, and the Net be in all things as the figure, pag. 9. deſcribes. Theſe Nets muſt be of a very exact ſize; and the beſt time for this Sport is from Auguſt to November, tho' in an open Winter it may be indifferently us'd till the middle of February, or the time the Birds begin to couple.

You muſt in this caſe be an early riſer, and have your Nets placed before they are well come abroad from their night rooſting; and this muſt be ſomewhat before the Sun is up. The most ſucceſsful places are on ſhort Barley-ſtubble, green Lays, or even Meadows that are dry; alſo [Page] in Champion ground far from any Villages or reſort of People; and where the ground proves uneven, you muſt uſe your endeavour to reduce it to an evenneſs, that the Nets ſinking into the ſhort graſs or ſtubble, and part of it coming thro the Maſhes, it may appear as hid, and very little to be diſcerned; and likewiſe on plain ground the Nets in drawing will cloſe ſo even, that being covered, the Birds may not flicker or creep through them.

The Nets thus placed, ſlaked, and corded, as has been directed, that at the ſmart and ſwift motion they may fly up and cloſe even; there remain Directions to allure the Birds to you; and to do this, ſtick Poles in the ground, if the place otherwiſe affords not advantage, that by their playing and noiſe [Page] they draw the Birds to wonder [...] them. Theſe Giggs are to [...] made of long Gooſe-feathers, [...] manner like a Shuttle-cock, [...]unning with little Turnels of Wood in flat and broad Swans Quills, round like a little hoop; ſo that long Strings being faſtned to the Pole, they will with the leaſt breath of Wind turn and flicker in the Air, the Strangeneſs of which draws the Birds to gaze, as thinking it ſome wonderful Creature of the Airy kind.

The next thing to be done, is to place your Stale; to do this, drive a ſmall Stake into the ground, having a Mortice on the top of it, or very near, and into this Mortice put a piece of ſlender Wood about two foot long; faſten it ſo in the Mortice, that with a String you may move it up and down at pleaſure, [Page] and tie to it a ſmall Line which running through a ho [...] in the Stake, and coming [...] your hand at the diſtance yo [...] ſit, you may by it, as often [...] you pull, mount the Stick from the ground.

On this Stick towards thr end, faſten your Stale-Bird, as live Lark, or other ſuitable t [...] what Birds you ſee flocking up and down; ſo that by the motion of the Stick, her flickerin will make her appear as if ſhe was flying about to feed: And indeed you muſt have Seeds, Corn, or Chaff, ſcattered near about and within the compaſs of your Net, by which mean [...] they will be allured, and with out much difficulty taken. You need not always ſtay for their alighting on the ground; but if they play about and ſwoop near it, draw up ſmartly, and [Page] you will not fail to cover ſome [...] them; and this Stale-Bird [...]eing a Lure for Hawks and [...]ther Birds of Prey that will [...]oop at her, if you be nimble [...]u may eaſily take them.

Now particularly for the [...]rk, though it ſerves for o [...]er Birds ſometimes beſide [...]at I have mentioned, there [...] Looking glaſs Stale, which [...]y be done, and this too is [...]allure them down; for ho [...]ring over it, and ſeeing their [...]dows by reflexion, they ſup [...]ſe it another Sky, and are ſo [...]led and taken with the no [...]ty, that they ſcarce know [...]ether they deſcend or aſcend; [...] this Glaſs muſt be triangu [...], and ſloping every way; ſo at being faſtened on Wood [...]oportionable, with a Socket [...] Foot, and ſome bright red [...]lour placed between, you [Page] muſt ſo order to draw it with Line, as it may turn ſwift backward and forward, which may be done in the ſame natur [...] by placing it on a Frame, tha [...] it may hang as the Boys whi [...]ling things are with a Nut, i [...] to which goes a String windi [...] and unwinding on a Stick wi [...] an Apple at the end of it, as is pulled or ſlackened; and th [...] being once ſeen, is eaſily don [...] and the refore I ſhall not be t [...]dious in inſiſting on it.

As for the Stales, place the [...] between the Nets about t [...] foot, or ſomewhat more, diſta [...] one from the other; ſo th [...] when the Net is pulled over, [...] Cords may not injure the [...] Let them ſtand even ove [...] againſt each other in a dire [...] Line. The Glaſs muſt be ke [...] almoſt continually moving, a [...] the Bird made very often to fl [...]ker.

[Page] Having thus prepared things for the Sport, the next thing is to be vigilant; and for your Seat you may dig a hole in the ground knee-deep, and caſt up ſome of the Earth before you, to ſhelter you as much as may be from the ſight of the Fowl; and if they are ſuch Fowl as are very ſhy, you may lie along, and cover the greateſt part of you with Graſs or Stubble. Your Drawing Lines may be twelve or fourteen yards: Lay the main Draw-line with a ſtrong Button of Wood in it, made faſt to your Thigh; and when you pull over, do it with both hands ſwiftly and nimbly.

If you want living Stales, or that they prove too troubleſom to keep, you may ſhoot a Lark, or ſome other Bird, take out the Intrails, ſtuff him with Tow, and dry him in an Oven, [Page] his Wings ſet in a flying poſture; and ſo you may be furniſhed at all times: But the living Stale is the beſt, in my Opinion.

Now as for Implements to be uſed on occaſion, you muſt not go abroad without them, viz. ſpare Poles, Lines, and Stakes, Pack-thread of different ſizes, a Knitting needle, and Pin, a Hatchet to ſharpen your Stakes, a Mallet to drive them in, and Bag for your Stales, and other Birds, with a dark Cage at the end of it.

If you Net for the ſmaller ſort of Singing-Birds, as Li [...] nets, Chaffinch, Green-bird, Goldfinch, &c. have ſuch Birds for S [...]ales as have been brought up to ſing in Cages, on the outſides of the fall of your Nets, who refreſh [...]d with the Sunbeams will ſing, and by their [Page] Melody draw others of the kind to them.

As for the Lapwing, ſhe is exceeding ſhy, and though ſhe may dodge and play about your Nets, is not eaſily caught. Your Nets muſt be of a larger Maſh, and ſomewhat larger for this Fowl, and between them place ſeveral d [...]i [...]d Lapwings, or their Skins ſtuffed and ſet out as if they were pecking or ſluttering, and at the head of them, which muſt as near as you can diſcern, be placed to the Wind, let there be two live Stales, give them Meat that they may be pe [...]king: and to enti [...]e thoſe that are on the Wing to you, muſt have the perfect Lapwing-Call: and as ſoon as ever they ſw [...]op within the danger of your Nets, draw up; for if you give them leaſure to diſcover [Page] the Deceit, they are gone again, and will be hardly induced to come any more.

To allure Stares to you, you muſt ſet live Stales in your Net, and in Cages; and when they are hungry, they will cry and make a calamitous noiſe, which will [...] draw ſuch as are within hearing to their ſuccour.

To drive Larks and other Birds into Nets: To place Nets in Woods, Coppices, &c. for Pheaſants, and other Fowl that have there their Haunts.

THere are yet other ſorts of Nets that may be uſed, where theſe large ones have [Page] not ſuch a conveniency; and the firſt I ſhall mention of theſe kinds, is called by the Italians Pantiere; it may be about four Ells deep, and of the ſame Maſh with the foregoing Day-nets; but then it is ſtrung on the upper ſide with a Cord, on which run a row of ſmall Rings, and to them Cords that draw them cloſe, or ſpread them at pleaſure; they muſt be ſupported by two or three more Stakes, according to the wideneſs of the place where they are ſet; get them ready in the Evening, driving before Sun ſet two hours; and for the driving in the Morning, an hour before Sun-riſe. Theſe are beſt in low ſtubble Fields, where the Larks and other ſmall Birds frequent in flocks; and when the Net is in right order, you muſt have a long Rope, which muſt be extended [Page] and held by two Perſons, one at the one end, and the other at t'other; begin to draw in a direct line about two or three hundred yards, if the ground be any thing level, and admit it, walking towards the Net as near as you can in a right line over the ſtubble, that it may ruſle, and ſo you may raiſe the Larks that ſcatter up and down the Field. This Rope may be between twenty and thirty yards long; they will not in this caſe uſually take the wing, but run before the Rope, which drags bellying after them, and ſo you may gently drive them on into the Net, which not being ſtraight ſtretched out, but eaſily running up, the more they ſtruggle, the more they will be intangled.

There is another ſort of Netting in Groves or Woods, [Page] where large Nets cannot come without intangling, nor are they proper: theſe are properly for ſmall Birds; but if the Pheaſant can be got into it, it will hold him: The true Net muſt be lined with a falſe one, having larger Maſhes, that the Birds getting through the one, may be intangled between both. The upper edge of this Net muſt have Iron or Horn-rings put on a ſtrong Cord; and the true Net as well as the two falſe ones, on either ſide muſt be verged with a Cord: Of theſe Nets one, two, or three of them may be placed in the open places of a Grove, and croſſing the place faſtned by the two top Cords made with winding ſtep round them to mount up, and on the top to have little holes to paſs the Ropes through, and Pullies in [Page] them to draw the Lines nimbly, and ſtretch out the Nets eſpecially towards the middle, making in each Maſh a kind of a Purſe or Pouch, that when the Bird ſtrikes againſt it, it may more readily go through the falſe Net, and be intangled in the real one: The bottom of the Net, or that ſide next the ground, muſt have ſundry Strings hanging at it a foot diſtance one from another, which may be faſtened to Pegs ſtruck into the Earth, and the middle of the Net, which ought to be deeper, will fall on a heap or furls.

The proper times for this are early before they are ſcattered to feed; or in the evening when they are preparing to go to rooft; and it will be proper for ſome one to drive the Grove and Wood with his Voice, or a [Page] Driver, ratling the Boughs, that they may be gathered towards the N [...]ts; and in this to hinder them from mounting and flying away, turn off a Sparrow-hawk or other ſmall Hawk with Bells, who ſoaring aloft, or pearching on the higheſt Tree, keeps them down, and greatly in awe; but this for want of a Hawk, may be done by an artificial one made with Bells, carried on the top of a high Pole.

Of taking Sparrows, &c. with the Clap-Net.

There is another Net uſed called the Clap Net, or Sparrow Net, made up of two croſs Stawes, a Preſs Net, and two Strings, that may eaſily draw i [...] together when the Birds are in it. This Net is properly uſed [...] [Page] or early in the morning, by clapping it to the Eves of Houſes, Barns, Hovels, or Ricks of Corn, and in Autumn againſt Vines growing on Walls of Houſes; and when it is ſet to any place, knock and thruſt the croſs Staves againſt it, and at the noiſe the Birds that rooſt there will be affrighted and come out, when flying into the Net, you may draw it up like a Purſe; and thus you may take great numbers.

Partridges Haunts, and of ſetting them.

Partridges are moſt certain to be found in Corn-fields whilſt the Corn is ſtanding, and till the Stubble be beaten down by Cattel, and other Accidents; however, they will continue there, but not ſo certainly, [Page] often upon affrights taking wing for other places; and for them particularly look in Wheat-fields, which Grain above others they love: But when it is much trodden, look in Barley-ſtubble, and there you will find them: If any be near the Wheat-fields when the ſtubble is ploughed up, eſpecially in Winter, or over-ſoiled with Cattel, then they betake them to encloſed Grounds, or upland Meadows, lodging in the tufted Graſs or Fog, under Hedges, Banks, the Roots of Trees, or among Mole-hills, ſometimes in Coppices, Under-Woods, Cloſes, and Incloſures, Commons, &c. that are buſhy, or produce Brake, Furz, Goſs, Ling, and the like. In Harveſt time being often diſturbed, they leave the Corn-field for the Falows adjoining, lying among [Page] Clods or Turfs turned up; at night when all is ſtill, they go to feed in the Corn-fields.

As for finding them, many do it by the Eye, which muſt be by uſe, in diſtinguiſhing their true Colour from the Ground; others by the Cock's call, and Hens anſwering, and preſently gathering the whole Covey together, which you may know by their chattering and rejoicing in their meeting; others take notice by the newneſs of their dunging, flatting the Graſs or Subble, then they are juſt removed, and not far off. But the beſt way is to get their true Call in all their Notes; and then if any be near, you may be anſwered at pleaſure, and draw them to you; but as ſoon as you have diſcovered them, move off, and take a Circle round them, ſee how they lie, [Page] and prepare your Nets to cover them. But if by this means you cannot find them, a Setting-dog is very proper, who will ſcent them out; but before you carry him into the Field, he muſt be approved in Obedience to your Signs and Voice; to ſtand ſtill when he ſees the Game, and then immediately fall on his Belly, and lie as ſnug with his Noſe on the ground as poſſible. He having done thus, if you imagin him too far off, by his looking on you for Orders for what he ſhould do more, make ſigns to him to go nearer, and he will crawl on his Belly, and when near enough, he will keep his eye directly on the Partridges; then is your time to be moving, and range your circumference about the Dog and Covey, to ſee whether it lies cloſe together, or [Page] ſcatter'd: then make a ſign to the Dog to lie ſtill, draw out your Net, and take you one end of the top Cord, whilſt another does the ſame to the other, and holding it ſtretched, run with it where the Dog fixes his eye, and let it fall on the Covey; then make a noiſe that they may ſpring up, and be entangled: leſt otherwiſe taking to the run, they get under your Net and eſcape: this may be done by one Perſon ſtaking down one of the Cords within diſtance, and drawing over the other; if they lie ſtragling, you ought to have two Nets: but this ſeldom happens. And thus you may take Pheaſants, Quails, or Moor-Pouts.

Another way to take Patridge with the Net.

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Being deſtitute of a Setting-dog, you muſt by your Eye, or the Directions before laid down find them out: Let your Nets be large, and the Maſhes of ſuch a wideneſs as may ſoon entangle, but not let the Partridge eſcape: and having found how they lie, draw forth your Net, and take a large circumference with a good round pace, your eye rather from than towards them, and when your Net is fitted to the purpoſe, draw your circumference cloſer, till you come within your Net's length, not making any ſtop, haſtily plucking down your Staff of about three foot long, and faſten to it one end of the Line of your Net, then let it [Page] ſlip out of your hand, ſpreading it as you go, and ſo when you are over the Partridges, let it fall, and if they riſe not, make a noiſe to affright them: and ſo they will be entangled and taken at your pleaſure.

The way of driving Partridges and Quails into the Tramelling Net.

To do this, you muſt have a Stalking-horſe artificially made with Canvas or Paſte-board, either flat or ſtuffed, or the ſhape of an Ox, Stag, or ſome other Creature familiar to theſe Birds: then take your Tramelling Net, which is round and fixed on Hoops, with two Flyers to cloſe it when the Game is entred: Fix it in the moſt covert and ſhady place you can, but ſo that there may be acceſs eaſily to it: and let it ſtand with [Page] the wind: if the place allow not naturally a cover, ſhadow it over with Boughs, Weeds, or the like [...] then covering your face with ſomething green, that they may not diſcern it, take your Stalking-horſe, or Engine, ſtalk towards the Fowl a gentle pace, covering your body with it as much as may be, and they will run before you, and not be affrighted, as they will before the Horſe naturally, for fear he in grazing along ſhould tread on them. If they happen to run by-ways, or contrary to what you would have them, croſs them, but not haſtily with your Stalking-horſe, and they will ſoon take right again, and run into the Net.

This will do for Partridge, but for Quails you muſt have ſome Cages with live Quails in them, to call the others to them [Page] as you drive, for theſe run more heady than Partridges: and to make them when they come near the Net gather in a body, ſtrow Millet or ſome Seeds, which increaſing, will invite them to go on cheerfully: or you may drive them by one going on the one ſide, and the other on the other, ſhaking little Collars of Bells, but not making any great noiſe with them, leſt being much afraid, they take wing, and ſo you loſe them. This Net muſt be pitched before day, and the Fowl driven ſoon after day-light: or it may as well be done in a clear Moon-ſhine night.

Sundry ways for taking Pheaſants, with their Haunts, &c.

This kind of Fowl take pleaſure in thick young Coppices [Page] Woods unfrequented, large, and very ſhady. You may find their Haunts in the day-time by looking under the Trees, or upon the Boughs in the night, and at certain Seaſons by the crowing of the Cock-Pheaſant. If they have a Brood, you may find them by the Cock's calling early in the morning, and late in the evening: and when undiſcovered of them you perceive how they lodge, there pitch your Nets: But it would be very convenient, if you could be perfect in the ſeveral Calls of the Cock and Hen-Pheaſant as to Brooding-time, a little before Sun-ſet give them warning of danger, which will gather them together by ſuch counterfeit Notes when they have ſtragled: for rejoining and playing will bring the Cock and Hen together when ſeparated.

[Page] Having by theſe acquainted your ſelf with their Haunts, hide your ſelf in the cloſeſt place you can, and then begin to call low at firſt, and raiſing your Note by degrees, not ever-ſtraining it: If nothing preſently anſwer you, and if there be any within hearing, you will be anſwered in a little time; and if you are anſwered by a ſingle Note from a diſtance, creep nearer, as the Pheaſant will do to you; and as you come nearer, lower your Note, humouring her in imitation; and when you ſee her on the Boughs or Ground, and ſhe is prying to find you, ceaſe calling, and ſpread your Net ſoftly and privately with much ſpeed, in the convenienteſt place between you and the Fowl, upon the loweſt Buſhes and Shrubs, making one end faſt to the [Page] Ground, and the other by a long Line held in your hand; ſo that when it is by anything ſtrained, you may draw it cloſe together in a hollow cmpaſs; then call again, and when you perceive her come juſt under your Net to ſeek you out, riſe on a ſudden, which will make her flutter up, and be inſtantly intangled. If more than one, or ſeveral from divers quarters anſwer your Call, remove not, but call on, and ſpread your Net as they come near you, which you will know by the continued Anſwers; and when they are under the Net, do as before.

To drive young Pheaſants, or Pheaſant-Pouts.

You muſt find where their chief Haunts are by their Dung, and the barrenneſs or beating [Page] the place; here you will find little Pads leading like tracks of Hares; in this open place as conveniently as you can place your Nets; then go into the thickeſt places, and call low, and they will anſwer as well as they can: cover your face and body with Boughs as far as you can conveniently, then cluck them together, but lie cloſe that they ſee you not, at leaſt to diſcover you, leſt the amazement make them ſcamper into Buſhes, and hide themſelves in holes, out of which they will not come till their fears are over, or hunger force them.

You muſt alſo for this purpoſe be provided with a thing called a Driver, made of ſtrong white Oſiers, ſpread like a Fan, and centring in an end as a Fan does in a handle faſtned through the middle with two chains or [Page] bindings of Oſier, and keeping [...]ll out of ſight; with this you muſt rake the Buſhes, and you will ſee them preſently cluſter on a heap, and then run a little way and ſtand ſtill: Then rake again, and they will do the like; if they go not the right way, ſteal about, and rake in their faces, and they will turn again; and when you have got them into the Pads, you may drive them like Sheep, if you do it circumſpectly. The Net muſt be placed looſe, hollow, and circularywiſe; the lower part faſtned to the ground, and the upper bending, hollow and looſe, that when the Fowl ruſh againſt it, it may fall and entangle them.

If in driving you find any diſmay among them, ſo that you fear they will run into Holes, or take wing, which you may ſee by their frightful gazing [Page] about, then leave off raking, and be mute till you perceive by their cluck and peeping they have recovered their fears, and then proceed again; and ſo do till you have attained your ends. And thus having diſcovered the beſt and ſureſt way of taking Fowl, both of the Water and Land, by Nets, that are worth conſidering, I [...] come now to give other Directions to take them; for Nets being chargeable, every one cannot be accommodated with them, nor can they, as you have heard, be eaſily managed but by two or three Perſons.

To Fowl with the Piece and Stalking-Horſe.

A Barrel of five foot and a half cleaverly made taper, but by ſuch degrees as not well diſcernable [Page] in particular parts, till declining to the muzzle or little end; and if they be caſe-hardened, they will endure better, carry much farther, and not be ſo apt to jarr or recoil. Six foot is a ſufficient length for the Barrel of any Piece, all above are unmanagable and tireſom; and though they may carry farther, the Mark is as it were beyond aim; and by reaſon ſo vaſt a diſtance of Air is to be penetrated with the Shot, it will make ſuch an impreſſion on, and ſo divide them, that there can be ſeldom a true level, unleſs with a ſingle Bullet.

As for the bore, it muſt be indifferent, not quite ſo big as that of a Harquebuſs, and ſo it will hold and carry the Charges to a farther level; and in this caſe a good and true Fire-lock is to be preferred before [Page] all others, becauſe it is not ſo diſcernable to the Fowl as a Match-lock, neither ſo troubleſome; and then again in Rain, Snow, Fogs, or windy weather there is no fear of extinguiſhing, as a Match often is, when you are many miles from a Houſe perhaps, and then if you have not a Tinder-box at hand, your Sport for a time is marred: But I need not much inſiſtion this, becauſe Fire-locks have gained the preference, and the other are rarely uſed.

Your Charge of Powder muſt be ſomething more than the proportion of your Shot in meaſure, but not in weight, at leaſt a third part; but here I muſt leave it to the length and ſtrength of your Piece, and the diſtance you level at, for the proportioning your Charge; but beware of over-doing it upon [Page] any account whatever: your Shot muſt be round and proportioned to the Game you ſhoot at: For ſmall Birds, Seed-ſhot will do; but for larger, Hail-ſhot, or larger, as you conceive the Fowl ſtronger or weaker; for there are divers Fowl tho' hit, if the Wings be not diſabled, or the vital Parts penetrated, will with little difficulty carry the Shot away in their Bodies, and recover their Wounds: Therefore in Shooting take theſe Directions.

Always as near as you can, ſhoot with the Wind, for it carries the Shot much the ſmarter and farther; come not, if you can avoid it, in the face of the Fowl to ſhoot, unleſs you are very cloſely covered, but rather take her turning ſide-ways, ſo that ſhe will be ſure to be diſabled, if not killed; in the [Page] Tail or behind is not ſo well, the Shot being apt to glance over.

Water-fowl, as well the web footed as the cloven, are of all moſt ſhy; and therefore you muſt uſe great Policy to come near them: If there be no Banks you can creep under, Flags, Ruſhes, or Buſhes to cover you naturally; You muſt make artificial Blinds, where their Haunts uſually are; as near as may be cover your ſelf exceeding cloſe, and have a Reſt to ſtake in the ground, for your Gun to level between two Forks, that kneeling you may hold it more ſteady and level, without moving the muzzle in the leaſt; for this is required if your Piece be very heavy, left the ſhaking your hand, or moving your head, when you have taken aim, ſtir the muzzle [Page] of your Piece; for the motion of half an inch from a true level, is five yards wide of the Mark in forty: and the like diſappointments happen, by either moving the Piece too high or low, for never ſo little alters very much at a great diſtance, ſo that the Shot will ground too ſoon, or fly over the Fowl, affrighting, but not hurting.

The true level on the Ground or Water, is to have the ſight of the Piece equal with the head of the Fowl, and keep your open Eye (for with one you muſt wink, or you will never take a true level) ſo ſteady, and the but [...]-end ſo faſt to your ſhoulder, that when it is gone off, it may remain not moved a hair's breadth; and by this means you will ſee what you aim at fall, if within reach; and if two of you ſhoot her, and [Page] there be a flock of Fowl, it will be the beſt for one to take them on the wing, juſt riſing, if any eſcape the ſhot on the ground: and then your level muſt be three yards from the ground, a little enclining to the way you ſee their heads ſtand: but then you muſt take a true time for firing, which is as ſoon as ever he that ſhoots on the ground has pulled his Tricker, and flaſhes in the Pan, or at leaſt if you are very near, as ſoon as you hear the report of his Piece.

If you are to ſhoot flying at a Flock, meet them if you can in the face the way they fly, and raiſe the muzzle of your Piece, ſlaunting or riſing by degrees upwards, that you may take the undermoſt, and ſo ſhoot ſlauntwiſe through them, ſo that the Shot that goes free, if any do, may fly higher than the [Page] rear of the Birds: but if you muſt take them on the ſide, obſerve whether the Fowl fly even in a line, make off, or towards you, or fly higher or lower: and in this caſe whether it be a Flock, or ſingle Fowl, you muſt conſider when you are within diſtance, and raiſe your Piece ſo, that it may be equal with her flight: but if ſhe be at a good height, or conſiderable diſtance from you, fire as at a mark about ſix yards before her, and then the Shot will take her as ſhe is paſſing, for if you aim directly at her ſide-ways, or underneath her, ſhe will be paſt away, before the Shot can reach her.

For making a Shot at the Tree, Buſh, or Bank, thatched Houſe, or the like; the beſt way is to ſhoot at the centre or middle of the Flock, if there [Page] be many, and let the particular Bird you there aim at be hid with the muzzle of the Piece, and ſo you will come juſt in amongſt them

There are many Birds that as ſoon as they light on the ground, fall a running, and rarely ſtand ſtill on it, as Field-fares, Thruſhes, Stares, Lap-wings, &c. You muſt in this caſe obſerve which way they bend their courſe moſt; and when they have gathered from their ſpreading, if you cannot come conveniently in their face or rear, fire with a level aim at the higheſt part of thoſe foremoſt that are next to you, and the others running on, will fall in with the Shot, if not ſlow, ſo that you cannot miſs of a good ſhoot.

Though this is properly accounted a Recreation, yet if [Page] well managed, it requires much Toil and Induſtry: for if you can get no ſhelter, you muſt lie flat on your belly, often creep on your hands and knees: and if you have not a Dog, eſpecially to fetch your Water-fowl, you may loſe them, unleſs you will venture into Rivers, Lakes, Brooks, Marſhes over-flowed, &c. your ſelf: alſo in Land-fowling a Dog well-managed to fetch and carry, is exceeding neceſſary to fetch them out the Buſhes and Briars, whether they will flicker or run when wounded, and be very difficult to find; and therefore a well-managed Dog is very neceſſary, to ſave you abundance of trouble, and retrieve your Game, that would be otherwiſe loft.

There is one thing mainly neceſſary to the Piece-fowler, and that is a Stalking-horſe to [Page] ſhelter him in his approaches to a due diſtance, which may be an old ſtaid Horſe that will not ſtart at the firing: and though he be uſeleſs for other matters, and may be bought for little or nothing, with a little training be active at this: and you muſt guide him with nothing but a String of a Graſs-colour, or in Snowy weather white, about his nether Chap, about two or three yardslong: teach him to walk gently on the Banks of Brooks and Rivers, or in open Fields, in a grazing poſture: guide him with your String, and a low Voice, towards the Game, who being uſed to ſuch Creatures, will not mind him, if you keep your body very cloſe behind him, and altogether out of ſight, ſo that being within ſhot, take your aim under his neck rather than belly, kneeling [Page] on one knee, ſuffering the foreleg and ſhoulder of the Horſe to cover your body. If you carry a Dog with you to fetch the Fowl, you muſt leave him at couch among the Flags and Ruſhes, or any coverture, till you whiſtle for him, and that then he may come ſpeedily; for all Water-fowl, and moſt Land, are naturally affrighted at the ſight of a Dog, though very little at the ſight of any other Land creature, and then ſet him in to fetch the Fowl you have ſtruck. Theſe Horſes are very good to approach Land-fowl with, if they are not on high Trees, for then at your near approach they will diſcern you.

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[figure]

For want of ſuch a live Horſe, you may cut out the reſemblance of one in Canvas, or Match-paper, paſted together a ſufficient breadth and length, with Ears, Legs, a Tail, and all the Parts proportionable, which you may paint to the lively colour of a Horſe, and ſomething like Graſs at his noſe, his head [Page] being ſtooping as grazing: and this may be done either flat or ſtuffed, but the firſt is moſt eaſie to carry by two ſtraps, through which you may thruſt your left arm: Under the feet muſt be ſharp Pegs to ſtick it, in the ground, when you come to take your level, and make your ſhot. And when this is grown common, and you have often diſturbed them, ſo that they perceive the deceit, you may change the Figure to an Ox, Cow, Stag, Aſs, or other large Creature, haunting or uſing thoſe with which the Fowl are familiar: And this may make the Sport laſt longer than other ways it would, the change putting a new deceit upon them.

There are other things that are uſed for ſhelter in this caſe, as in Marſhes and Rivers, to [Page] deceive Water-fowl; moving Blinds may be made of Flags, Bents, Ruſhes, or ſuch things as grow there, wattled together with pack-thread or ſmall cord, like Flags, Bents, or Ruſhes for Chimney-backs.

In Fields, woody places, &c. a Buſh may be ſo ordered and proportioned, by the addition of more, to a bigneſs, that carrying it in one hand, you may ſhelter your whole body with it: Alſo a Hedge may be made of Oſier-twigs, and others, long and light, eaſily portable: likewiſe a Tree, behind whoſe paſtboard body painted you may ſhelter, the top being ſtuck with Twigs and Branches like a Tree. But theſe being unuſual to motion, you muſt move with them exceeding ſlowly, or the Bird will take fright, and be gone.

A way in general to take Birds with the Crown-net.

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The Crown net in all reſpects may be made like that for cloven-footed Water-fowl, already deſcribed pag. 8. This may be placed any where, as near a Barn-door, in Corn, Stubble, or on green Swart, in the morning or evening, where you have obſerved the Fowl to haunt.

If near a Barn-door, hide it with very ſhort and light Straw or Chaff: if in Corn-fields, with the breakings of ſhort Stubble: if in Graſs, with Graſs: then hide your ſelf, and when the Fowl deſcend and ſwoop, draw up with a ſwift hand. One of theſe Nets may be ſet at a Barndoor, where there is not room to play them, in the nature of a pitfal, gently held up by a [Page] ſtick with a ſtring to it, and through a crevis: when they are under it, draw the ſtring, which pulling away the ſtick, will ſuddenly let it fall on them: and to haſten the fall, hang ſome weight on the Cord that Verges it.

An excellent way to dare and take Larks in the day-time.

Have Nets in the form of a Scoop or Hoop-net, ſuch as Anglers land Fiſh withal, made of fine green Thread, or a ſmall Trammel-net will do better: Then carry a Hobby or Lark-Hawk on a Pole into the Fields where the Larks haunt about Harveſt-time: beat them up with a Dog, and obſerving where the Flock alights, creep as cloſe to them as may be: then on a ſudden hold up your Hawk on your Pole, and as [Page] ſoon as ever they perceive him, they will be ſo coward, that you may eaſily draw your Net over them without their ſo much as ſtirring: for they are ſo fearful of the Hobby, which preys on them about this Seaſon, that they will rather almoſt adventure to let you take them with your hand than riſe. And this Sport you may continue till Michaelmas, when the wild Hobbies leave this Country, or that Exerciſe: and then the Lark is more confident, and not ſo to be affrighted.

To know good Powder, caſt round Shot of different ſizes, charge your Fowling-pieco, and cleanſe it when foul.

A leſſer quantity of Powder will ſerve, where it has been well made, and not loſt ſhe [Page] ſtrength by being kept too long, much damped, or expoſed to the Air, and to try this, lay a little Train of it on a clean board, give fire to it, and if it moves with a quick motion, going up as with one flaſh, though the train be five or ſix Inches, leaving behind it a white mark, a little enclining to blewiſh, then it is good; but if in going off it ſputters, and moves ſlowly in the manner of Wild-fire, leaving a black mark or ſinge behind it, ſmelling rank or too much of Sulphur, then it is either decayed or ill made, and wants much of its ſtrength, clogging and fowling the Piece preſently; the beſt grain is that which has a blewiſh gloſs on it, hard and round, and will not preſently diſſolve on your Tongue, but carry a quick, ſharp tincture with it, the [Page] ſmaller the grain the better; To teach you to make this will ſignifie nothing to the Fowler, becauſe it is too chargeable in doing it for ſmall quantities, and may be bought at an eaſier rate; but for Shot, it being eaſie and to advantage, I ſhall give you proper directions.

Peices of old Lead may be got at eaſie rates, put them into a Crucible, or Iron melting Ladle, and when it is melted ſcum it, and then being well heated it will turn of a greeniſh colour, put in then as much Auripigmentum as will lye on a broad Shilling, ſtir it, and it will flame, after it extinguiſhes, try it by putting in a little Iron Ladle with a Lip or Nick, and taking out ſome, let a few drops fall into the Water, if it become round, there is Auripigmentum [Page] enough, if it has tails, put more till it will do.

This done you muſt have a Copper-plate ſquare, the bottom thin, and the ſides that ſtand up like a Pye thick, in the middle have thirty or forty round holes drilled, lay Charcoal lighted on either end the Plate to keep it hot, place it on two Bars of Iron over a Tub of Water, and then pour on the Lead, and dropping thro' the holes into the Water, it will become round, if it cool on the Plate blow the Coals, and taking off the cooled Lead, melt it over again, and pour on hot.

You may in one Plate have ſeveral ſized holes, and ſeparate the Shot with Sieves proportionable to the reſpetive ſorts or ſizes.

For clearing a Piece when [Page] furred and fouled with Firing, to make it carry well, or prevent breaking, diſſolve a little Salt in Vinegar over a gentle fire; Then to the Horney end of your Gun-ſtick, faſten a Rag, or little Wiſp of Tow, ſtop the Touch-hole with a ſmall Pin of Wood, pour the Vinegar in pretty warm, as much as will a quarter ſill the Barrel, then turning it up and down, ſhake it well, then lay it on a level Table, and let it lye for a time, pour out that and put in freſh, then churn it up and down with your Gun ſtick and Liniment, put in more till it comes out clear, then tye on a dry Liniment, heat it at the fire, and dry the inſide of the Barrel, put the Cork then into the Bore, and ſet it in the Chimney Corner till it be thoroughly dried.

[Page] As for Charging, the readieſt way to prevent often pulling out your Powder, to catch a dampneſs, is to make even Cartrages, which will be a due charge, and make them up in Moulds like Serpents, but with a very thin Paper about them, ſo that being preſently taken from your Pouch and thrown in, have a little Priming-Wire to bore the Touch-hole, and after that do the like by the Shot, ſo that it both carries farther, and ſaves you much time, the Shot by this means coming out cloſer, and more level.

Directions to make the beſt Birdlime for Land and Water, and how to keep it from Freezing.

There is yet another way to take Fowl, much approved of, that is with a Clammy or [Page] Glewy ſubſtance, called Bird- [...], [...] the which it will be proper [...] give you directions to make, before I proceed to the uſe of it.

About Mid ſummer, or when the Sap is full, bark well-grown Holly, and having ſtripped off a conſiderable quantity, put it into a Kettle, and boil it in fair Water till the White and Gray Bark part, and riſe from the Green; then take the Green, and lay it on a heap on Tyled or Stone Floors, in a moiſt place, either in a low Vault or Cellar; cover it over with Weeds, and let it putrifie, which at ten or twelve days end it will do, turning into a ſlimy matter, it will be convenient in this caſe, to lay a Layer of [...]rn between each Layer of the Bark, and when this is done, beat it [...]n a Mortar till nothing but [Page] ſlime remain, ſo that it may [...] wrought like Wax, no part [...] the Bark being to be diſcer [...], then in a running Stream▪ [...] ſo well waſh it, that no mote or husks of any thing remain; After this knead it into a Glazed Earthen Veſſel, with a Cover ſo cloſe that the Air cannot come at it, and there it will purge and fume up its Scurf, which when it has done in fire or ſix days, ſcum it off, and do ſo till no more ariſe, then ſhift it into another clean veſſel and keep it for your uſe.

When you uſe it, put a third part of Hogs-greaſe, Gooſe-greaſe, or any thin greaſe into it, and ſtir it over a gentle fire in an earthen veſſel till well Incorporated, then take it off, and continue ſtirring till it become cold.

This done, take your Rods [Page] or what you intend to anoint with it, warm them at the fire, and ſtrip them over with it twice or thrice, ſo that it may lye of an equal evenneſs, and not in clots, often warming the Rods to make it ſpread, and be the leſs to be perceived by the Fowl you deſign them to Intangle.

If you Lime Straws, you may do them the ſame way, but many together, turning and opening them before the fire, till they are well ſmeered, that they may hold and intangle well.

In Cold Froſty Weather, mix it with Oyl of Petrollum or Spike, to prevent Friezing, and to keep it clammy.

To make it uſful in the Water, put to it in the working with Greaſe, ſharp Vinegar, about half a quarten to a pound, a ſpoonful or two of Train-Oyl, [Page] and a little Venice Turpentine, and boil them gently over a Fire with continual ſtirring, as before.

To take Water Fowl of divers kinds, with Lime-Rods, the manner of ordering and placing them to the beſt advantage, &c.

To take Water-Fowl with Limed Twigs, let the Twigs be ſtrait and long, and even as peeled Oſiers, &c. light and ſlender, pliable to play in the Wind, greater or ſmaller, according to the ſtrength of the Fowl you lay them for, ſmeer them as directed.

Go to the haunts an hour before day, and if you can get it, ſtake down for a Stale, a live Fowl of the ſame kind you lay for, with liberty to flutter at pleaſure, then prick lightly rods [Page] in rows about her, a foot diſtance from one another, and ſloping, bending their points to the Wind, or ſome oppoſite, the tops a foot or better from the Ground, then if you have them, place a Stale or two diſtant from the twigs, and then conceal your ſelf, having a ſtring faſtened to each Stale, to make it flutter as you ſee occaſion, which will make the Fowl in ſight come to them, ſwoop among them, and be entangled by the Rods; you muſt have a good Water-Dog to fetch them, if they flutter away with your twigs, and if you leave them, and any of the twigs be miſſing, ſend out to the Water, Marſh, or River Banks, Ruſhes, &c. to ſcent the Fowl out where hid, for if well taken, ſhe cannot diſentangle or fly away.

This is the proper way for [Page] the Cloven-footed VVater-fowl, as Heron, Bitteron, &c. but for the Web-footed, they are better placed in the Water than on the Land, in ſhallow places, the Limed part ſtanding above the Water, ſo thick that the Fowl may not eaſily creep between them, fixing a Stale or two to decoy them thither; let your Rods for this be green, the better to deceive; when one Haunt fails, you muſt remove to another.

In Winter time when no Snow lies, the VVild-Geeſe and Barnacles reſort to the green VVheat to Graſe, here you muſt prick down large Rods in the Furrows, as near the colour of the Earth as may be, and chuſe thoſe Furrows where there is VVater; you muſt in this caſe not be far off, but concealed, and preſently run in [Page] when you ſee any riſe, for then ſome are intangled, whoſe fluttering has ſcared the reſt, and if any flutter away, ſend your Dog after, or if there be any Fenny places or VVaters near, you will go near to loſe them.

Another way to take Land and Water Fowl, viz. with Lime-ſtrings.

Obſerve the Haunts and time as before; then in the ſame manner prick your Limed Rods ſlanting in even rows, ſo that the tops may be within a foot and a half of the ground, over the haunts, one Row a yard diſtant from another; then have ſticks with Forks to ſtand pretty high, and croſs ſticks over them, then Lime Strings, as you did your Twigs, placing them ſome rows higher than [Page] others waving, and faſten the ends with a ſliding Loop, ſo that if the Fowl preſs upon them, and they are ſtrained, they may looſen and lap about them; and this way particularly you may furniſh your ſelf with ſtore of Plover, or any other Fowl that fly in broad Flocks, ſwooping cloſe by the ground at ſome diſtance before they light.

Theſe ſtrings being ſmeered with Strong-water, tried Lime, made as I have directed for that purpoſe, you may take Water-Fowl that are whole-footed, or web-footed, by hanging your Strings on Beams over the VVater; for if they ſtrain them in flying, they will ſo entangle them, that they will preſently fall; and theſe are beſt ſet in the darkeſt and moſt covert places; ſo that not diſcerning them, in their ſpreading to deſcend [Page] into the Water, many of them may be taken at once; you muſt have here a Dog or Boa [...], or elſe, when they are taken you will be at a loſs to recover them.

Snipes, how to take with Water-Bird-lime, &c. alſo Larks.

Theſe are beſt taken in hard Froſty Weather, for then they are moſt to be found flocking to Springs where the Water is open, for they cannot, by reaſon of their Bills length and tenderneſs, feed in hard places; then take ſmall Birch Twigs and Lime them, ſtick them in great numbers all about the place where it is moſt likely they ſhould light, at a moderate diſtance, then hide your ſelf, and when they light in ſuch a manner, with open ſpread [Page] VVings, but few of them will miſs your Twigs; and if you ſee any of them taken, do not preſently run in, for they will hop and ſeed with the Twigs under their VVings, and ſo be a Stale for the reſt: but when you think they are moſt of them Limed, then is your time to take them up, and keep two or three of them for Stales.

If there be ſeveral open places near, hunt them to that you have Limed, if you have not help to attend them all; for as ſoon as they are raiſed from one, they fly to another, at ſome reaſonable diſtance, unleſs they be very much affrighted; how-ever, in a little time they will come again; this when the Snow lyes on the ground, is very practicable.

For the Lark likewiſe, in [Page] Snowy VVeather, uſe the ſame Method; but becauſe her haunt is in open Fields, you muſt ſweep away the Snow pretty broad, where it is not Plowed, but Stubbly, there ſcatter the refuſe of Wheat-Threſhing but lightly, ſet your ſmall Twigs, and hunt them to the place; which when they ſ [...]e bare, they will preſently flock to it, and be taken: if you bare two places in like manner, at two hundred yards or thereabouts diſtance, thoſe that eſcape taking at the one, will fly to the other, and ſo in a little time you may have the whole flock of them.

Land-Fowl not mentioned, how to take them with Bird lime; and firſt the Pheaſant.

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This is a ſtrong Bird, and your Lime-rods muſt be proportionable, at leaſt a foot long, only Limed the upper half; for this work you muſt have a Lime-buſh, containing not above eight Twigs, which may be the top-branches of ſome Willow very young, and there muſt be a handle to it with a ſharp Peg, to ſtick in the ground, or prick it into ſome Shrub, whereabout the Pheaſant haunts, or in a Tree where they pearch; you may place two or three of theſe at a little diſtance, and then hide your ſelf and begin to call as has been directed Page 40. and thoſe within hearing, will by degrees [Page] advance to the place, in hopes to find one of their Companions; and by hopping, fluttering, and peering about, no doubt but ſome of them will fall upon the Lime-buſh, and their fluttering draw the reſt to gaze, and wonder what is the matter, or pearching and peering to diſcover any one near, they will happen on the other Buſhes; and as many Rods as are miſſing, ſo many Pheaſants are entangled, and if they get away, you muſt throw in your Spaniels to ſearch for them, for if they be not found, they will creep into holes and ſtarve, as has been often known; and becauſe in the Winter the Old Pheaſants are ſhy, and will not come from the Trees, you muſt fix your Buſhes there, in the moſt convenient Pearching-places, ſo that hopping up and down, and [Page] prying, they will be intangled; this way may be ſucceſsfully uſed, from the beginning of November to the latter end of March, or till the Leaves put out, and then you muſt deſiſt, for it will eaſily be diſcovered.

How to take Pigeons, Crows, Pyes, &c. with Lime-twigs.

For the firſt, you muſt be provided of two Pigeons for your Stale, and with what quantity of Twigs you pleaſe; about Sun-riſing place them on the ground in Rows where the Pigeons haunt, theſe Twigs muſt be pretty ſmall, and placed ſo that they may not fray the Fowl with the Novelty, place your Stales in the middle, and ſcatter ſome Corn for them to feed, and if there be good flights near, [Page] they will throw themſelves headleſly down, ſo that you may take great numbers; and here you need but ſtand at a pretty diſtance, and not hide, for theſe Birds are not very ſhy, unleſs Turtles or Wood Pigeons, which muſt be layed for in their proper haunts, viz. Woods, Coppices and ſuch places as they frequent.

For Crows and Pyes, and other Birds of Prey that feed on Fleſh, place your Lime-twigs on the Carcaſs of a dead Horſe newly ſtript, or any other dead Beaſt that has not long been ſo, that you ſhall find in the Lanes and Fields, ſmall and thinly ſcattered; and deſcending on the Carcaſe, they will hop up and down, till▪ fluttering, the Twigs take their Wings, and then they may be taken up; [Page] but the ſport, is the Hood-way of Liming, viz.

If Crows or Roo [...]s waſte your Corn, and you are willing to be even with them, take a large Sheet of Cap brown Paper, cut it in four equal quarters, Lime it on one ſide, then turn it on your Fingers like a Sugarloaf Paper, broad at one end, Taper at the other, do many of theſe, and running a Pin croſs, with a piece of Liver, Lights or other ſort of Raw-Fleſh, about three parts deep, make little holes in the Plowed ground by the Furrow ſides, and put the little ends into them, letting the wide ſtand upright, almoſt even with the ground, and as they ſtalk along ſeeing or ſcenting the Fleſh, they will thruſt in their Heads to get it, then the Limed Paper ſticking cloſe to them, finding [Page] themſelves blindfolded, they will riſe to a great height, and then in a maze immediately fall down again, ſo that you may take them up.

To take Feldfars and Stares with Bird-lime.

After Michaelm [...]s this Bird is in ſeaſon for Game, then if you can, get two or three live ones, if not, ſhoot them for Stale, and let them ſo ſtiffen in their cooling, that they may be in a ſitting poſture; then take a conſiderable number of Birch twigs, which cut off from a Bough, make little clefts or holes in the ſtumps, and ſo cut the lower end of the Twigs, viz. ſharp, round, or ſliced, that they may be placed in them, as if they were naturally faſtened to the Bough, make it ſpread as [Page] branching as you can, then ſet your Stales on the ſolid Bough in the middle, ſome diſtance from each other, ſet it then before day, where they uſually come in the Morning betimes to feed, for they moſtly keep a conſtant place, till they have conſumed the food there, and then they remove to another; and if they eſpy the Stales, they will immediately light upon the Buſh if it be placed high, and ſing in their manner, as if they enquired of them, whether any danger is near, when unawares they are in it, for the Twigs ſticking to their Wings, and other Feathers as they flutter, will draw out from the Buſh, and hold them faſt.

As for Stares or Starlings, the beſt way to deal with them, is with ſmall Limed Strings, only about a handful you tye to the [Page] Legs of the Stares you catch muſt not be Limed, and when you ſee a Flock, let theſe go, and they will confuſedly fly among them with the Lime-ſtrings, ſo that they will fall down, and tumble over and over, then with a Broom when they are low, or tumble, you may eaſily cover and ſecure them; tho' this is more for pleaſure than profit; you may likewiſe have the ſame paſtime, by tying it to the Tail of the Stares you have taken, and indeed this will take with moſt Birds that cluſter in Flocks, cloſe and near together: for the Stares when they light, or fly are very cloſe, every one coveting and crouding to get into the middle Center.

How to Lime Partridges.

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Take a handful or more of the largeſt Wheat-ſtraws, cut them off at every knot, take the two lower joynts only, Lime them over ſmoothly, and find out their haunts by the directions page 28. then call a little, and when they anſwer, prick down your Straws in rows ſloping, the upper ends four or five Inches from the ground, both croſs the Lands and in the Furrows, then lye down near theſe Straws, covered with Stubble or Graſs, if no Buſhe [...] afford ſhelter; then call them, and ceaſe not till you have drawn them to you; ſo that paſſing through the Limed Straws, they will be entangled, and thoſe that miſs, will be daubed by the other when they come crouding, and [Page] juſtling cloſe up like Chickens, that ſcarcely any of the company will eſcape; the proper time for this is after Harveſt, in Stubble Fields, and it may be continued till Chriſtmas; but in Woods and Paſtures, you muſt uſe the ſmall Birch Rods, prick [...]ng them as the Straws, call in [...]he ſame manner, and order every thing accordingly.

To take all ſorts of ſmall Birds with the Lime-buſh or Twigs.

Take a Branch that ſpreads much with very ſmall Sprigs, as [...]irch, Willow, Poplar, or Sal [...]ow, let the Stem of it be pret [...] long, and have ſome Stales [...] ſtand in ſight of ſuch Birds, [...]hoſe Flights are moſt uſual in [...]oſe places, Lime the Twigs [...]eatly over, unleſs thoſe the [...]tales are faſtned on, and [Page] watch in ſome covert place the flocking of the Birds, having one at a diſtance with a Clapper or ſomething that will make a noiſe, to drive them that way; and if two or three light, mind them not, but when they are entangled they will ſerve as Stales for the reſt; and ſo when they are in any number intangled, down with the Buſh, and ſeize them in a Bag or Sack; a live Owl, or the figure of her exactly painted, is a good Stale to draw them to wonder at, and in the heat of perſecuting her, they will be taken by Twigs, and find there is nothing got by being quarelſome.

If they are ſlow in coming, you muſt in the covert where you lye hid, uſe your Bird-Call or Mouth; and this you muſt learn to do by hearing each Bird's Note, and often practiſing [Page] to bring your ſelf to imitate; you may take them with Lime-twigs only, ſetting them before day as has been often directed, in the general haunts where they feed, which is a [...]ittle after Day-break, at fartheſt about Sun-riſe; or you may place the Lime-twigs all along [...]he Hedges where they rooſt, [...]ome ſlope-wiſe, others upright, ſome croſs and very near together, that when they return from feeding, they may be en [...]angled, or if they return not [...]olunatarily, you may go into [...]he Fields adjacent, and drive them to the Hedges, this may [...]e done an hour after Sun-riſe, and as much before it Set.

Another excellent way to take ſmall Birdg.

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Take three handfuls of large Wheat-Ears, let the Straw remain to them a foot long, only Liming that, and not the Ears, then ſtick them up in hard Froſty weather, that the Ears may hang, and the Straws bend as it were Arch-wiſe; do this if it may be in Snow, and ſcatter a little Chaff over it, faſten down a Stale if you have it, of the ſame kind you deſire moſt to take; let the Ears be ſpread ſingle, and when the Birds flock to pick them, or attempt to fly away with them, the Straw to be ſure laps one Wings, and brings the Bird down again; ſo that this way you may take great numbers; for Sparrows, you may fix them on the Tops [Page] of Barns or Thatched Houſes, and not only get the Birds, but ſome abundance of Corn by deſtroying them.

To take Water-Fowl with Snares and Sprindges.

You muſt as in other caſes find the Haunts and uſual Feedings, well obſerving the Water Tracts and Furrows where they uſually go, eſpecially where many Furrows meet, which you may percieve by their Paddles and Worms, Floagraſs, and ſuch other things as they like, being there, and when you find the meeting Furrows come as it were into one narrow ſtream or paſſage, and then divide into other Branches and Parts, deepeſt always in the middle, theſe are ſufficient grounds to believe you may have here good Gaiue, eſpecially near Rivers or [...] [Page] and in the Center of theſe, where moſt Paddles are, you muſt place your Inſtruments, ſtopping all other avenues with Buſhes, Sedg, Flags, or any thing that will make little Fences about a handful above the Water, and then the Fowl unleſs on fright, will keep the direct road, and not paſs over them

This done, the next buſineſs is, to take a long ſtiff young Plant, taper to the end, not apt to break, but pliable to bend, of Holly, Hazle or Yew, ſharpen it at the great end, and faſten a Swivel-loop on the Top, then pitch it in the place you deſign to expect your Game, and proceed to make a Line of Horſe-hair, in ſtrength by the number of Hairs, ſufficient to take, and hold, the Fowl you deſign it for; faſten this to the Loop on the top of your Plant, [Page] and let it be a little more than half the length of it, with a running Nooſe, then bend a Hazle loopwiſe, in an Oval or Egg faſhion, but leſſer at one end; let the bending be greater or ſmaller, according to the proportion of the Fowl; and this is called the Bridge, becauſe it anſwers as the Bridge does in a Mouſe-Trap, hard by the Swickle or Loop; faſten within an inch and a half of the bent Plant, a little Tricker, broad and thin, as is uſual to a Mouſe-Trap, then lay your Loop of Hazle croſs the Tricker, and hang the bow-end of it on a Hook or Peg driven into the ground, on one ſide the track; & the ſtalk or other end of it, you muſt put underneath the bout of the firſt mentioned bow-ſtick; and near to the end of the ſtalk cut a nick, then ſix the long [Page] hazle plant, viz. the great end, ſtrongly in the Earth, that it may not give way on the ſide of the Bank, where the Track is, and bring the ſmaller ſtrongly bowed, till the Tricker, by putting one end of it under the bout of the firſt mentioned ſtick, and the other end in the ſtalk of, or end of the Bridge, may be faſtened, and keep the plant ſtrongly bent down.

This done, lay the Loop of Horſe-hair on the Bridge, conveniently wide, but ſo as it may not well be diſcerned, and then the Fowl coming, and treading in the middle of it on the Bridge, it will ſlip away, and the feet of the Fowl be caught in the Loop, by the ſudden and ſmart riſing of the hazle-plant; and thus according to the ſtrength of the plant, you may take the [Page] largeſt Fowl that this Iſland affords.

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Snares are made and laid in the following manner; Take ſticks of a pretty height, about two foot, ſtick them faſt in the Earth a little ſlaunting on the ſides of Furrows, faſten to them a Horſe-hair Line, in Moonſhyny Nights, when the Corn begins [Page] to ſpring; eſpecially thoſe next the Banks or Hedges, and make a running Nooſe in the Line, hanging about three inches from the ground; ſet ſeveral about ten foot diſtance one from another, and when the Wood-Cocks come, as ſuch places are their uſual haunts, the Loop being wide enough, the foremoſt will run his head through, and finding himſelf entangled by the cloſing of the Nooſe, and finding himſelf ſo, he will neither cry out nor ſtruggle, but ſtand ſtill till you take him; but you need not do it preſently, for thoſe that follow, will be through their fooliſh nature ſo little conſiderate, that going aſide, they will turn again into the Furrow, and ſo you may take as many in half an hours time, as you have ſet Snares, if they much hannt the [Page] place; theſe ſerve for Snipes, near Springs where they haunt, but then they muſt be higher, and take them as they are alighting, that when they are faſtened they cannot reach the ground, or elſe if you are not ſpeedily at hand, they will flutter till they get looſe.

The manner of Bat-Fowling.

Having obſerved where the Birds in great numbers Rooſt in Hedges, Shrubs, or Trees, go thither in a dark Night, and have a Wicker with a handle to hold on high, in which you can place three or four Links, at half a foot diſtance; make a Circle of them if you have enough, light the Links when you come at the place, and if it be in a hedge, let one go with a pole, and beat the contrary [Page] ſide, and one or two be with you, carrying long Buſhes; and when they are unrooſted with beating, they will come flying about the light, ſo that thoſe with the Buſhes, may eaſily ſtrike them down; if in a Wood, or among Shrubs and Furrs, let one of each ſide you beat at a pretty diſtance, this muſt be in a fair ſtill Night.

Or you may pitch down a Lime-buſh as in pag 85. and hold your blaze or light by it; and being rouſed, they will fly about it, to wonder at the light, and be entangled, that you may eaſily take them.

Low-belling.

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This muſt be chiefly practiſed in open Countries, from the end of October till March is the the propereſt ſeason, and the manner is thus.

In a ſtill Evening about Eight of the Clock, when the Moon ſhines not, take your Low-Bell of a moderate ſize, that it may be well managed by one man in one hand, having a deep and hollow ſound; have alſo a Net with ſmall Maſhes, twenty yards long, and ſo broad that five or ſix ordinary Lands may be covered with it, and go into Fields where the Stubble has not been much trod, but is ſomething high and freſh, eſpecially Wheatſtubble; let the Bell-man go foremoſt, and Toll it diſtinctly [Page] and doleſully, letting it ſtrike but now and then on each ſide, and follow with the ſour corners of the Net born up; and on each ſide, then another muſt carry a Pan of live Coals without any blaze, and pitching your Net where you ſuppoſe the Game is, make little Bundles of Stubble, and ſet them on a blaze; or you may carry Links for that purpoſe, then with Poles and ſome noiſe, rouſe the Fowl, if any be under the Net; ſo that being entangled, you may take them, then put out the Lights, go to another haunt; in this caſe the noiſe of the Low-bell aſtoniſhes them, and makes them lye ſtill, but the light cauſes them to riſe, by dazzling and affrighting them, but you muſt make no other noiſe till you ſuppoſe your Nets are over them.

To take Birds another way, by Lights.

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Take a Net of an ordinary Maſh, fasten it to two green pliant Willows, as thick as a Man's Finger, and about three yards long, faſten theſe to a ſquare Baſtion about two yards and a half long, in two holes ſome what diſtant the one from the other, and cover likewiſe with the Net; it ſerving for a handle to carry and manage it, and the form may be ſquare or round, reſembling a Racket: this carry before you ready ſpread, then another muſt go cloſe by your ſide with a Lanthorn, having but one Light before it, all the reſt dark, ſo that you may ſee the Birds, and they not you, and whilſt they are gazing and wondering, clap [Page] the Net over them, and making a noiſe, they will riſe in it and entangle; this may be done with a Lanthorn, with a round glaſs in the front of it, like a Lamp-light, eaſily portable.

To take Birds with the Trammel.

The Trammel is little different from the Lowbelling Net, though it may be ſomewhat longer, but not broader; when you come near their haunts ſpread it on the ground, plum the hinder part with Lead, that it may trail on the ground, but the two foreparts carried up by men about a yard from the ground, and one on each ſide the Net, muſt go with blazing lights, others with buſhy poles to beat up the Fowl as you go, and ſo as they riſe will entangle, and ſo you may trace a [Page] vaſt deal of ground in a few hours.

The Art of taking Fowl with Baits, and of Trap-Cages.

This moſtly is to be done to Birds of Prey, either on Fiſh or Fleſh, though other may be taken.

The Heron is a great deſtroyer of Fiſh-ponds, and to take her this way, find the water ſhe haunts, then get three or four ſmall Dace or Roach, and draw a ſmooth Wire juſt withinſide their skins, beginning on the outſide of their Gills, run it to the Tail, faſten it to a Line ſtrong twiſted with Wyre and Green Silk, three or four yards, ſtake the end of the Line in the ground, that the Fiſh may play in the ſhallow, where the Heron can wade, and arm [Page] the end of the Wire, with a convenient large Fiſh-hook, and when the Heron ſtalks into the Water for her Prey, ſhe will greedily ſwallow the Fiſh if alive, or elſe not, and ſo be taken with the hook, but if the Line be only Silk, ſhe will with her ſharp Bill bite it in ſunder and eſcape.

Thus Wild-Ducks are taken, baited with Worms, Lights, or the like; Ravens, Buzzards, Kites, and divers other Fowl, with Nux Vomica diſſolved in Lees of Wine, and made up into little Pellets, ſcattered or rowled up in Carrion, or ſuch things as they take, for flying up after, it ſuddenly works, and ſtupefies them ſo, that they fall down again, and may be taken up, but if they lye long, they will recover and fly away.

[Page] Such Grain as Birds feed on, ſteeped or boiled in Spirits of Wine, will have the ſame effect on them, if you watch them a little when they fall, and be quick in taking them up.

As for Linnets, Robins, Goldfinches, Nightingales, and ſuch choice Singing Birds, you may take them in Trap-Cages, placed in their haunts, and baited with Seeds, Worms bred on Herbs, A [...]-Eggs, Flies, or the like, and theſe Cages may be bought ready made at eaſie rates, to ſave you trouble in making them, and me the like in deſcribing them, few being ignorant what they are. And thus much for Fowling in general and particular.

To make Birds Sing in Autumn and Winter.

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About the beginning of May, let them be well purged with Beet, by mingling the Juice with their Water; after that for a ſpace give them no Water at all, but hang freſh Beet-Leaves in their Cages, often renewing it, and ſpread the bottom of the Cage with fine ſifted Gravel and Earth, and by degrees uſe them to darkneſs for ten days, by darkening the place one day more than another, till they are quite dark.

And let one certain perſon that ſeeds them, only come at them with a Candle once in three days, to give them clean Water and their Feed, cleanſe their Cages▪ &c. and here it [Page] would be convenient to have two Cages, that a change may be made every twenty days; every fourth day give them the Leaves of Beet, and every tenth the Juice as before, leaſt you endanger their being blind.

In this manner keep them till about the tenth of Auguſt, then new purge them after the manner firſt deſcribed, and then by degrees accuſtom them to the Light, but expoſe them not for a conſiderable time after, to the Beams of the Sun, leſt thereupon they become blind.

Diſeaſes incident to Singing-Birds, and their Cures.

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Blindneſs radicated and confirmed, cannot be remedied, but at firſt when you perceive their Eyes begin to VVater, you may remedy it by giving them Sugar diſſolved in the juice of Beet, every other day for four days, and putting upright in the Cage a ſmooth Twig of a Fig-tree, to rub their Eyes againſt, which by inſtinct of Nature they will do.

For the Falling ſickneſs, if they eſcape the firſt fit, cut their Claws to the quick, and ſprinkle them with ſweet wine, and let them not come in the heat of the Sun all the Summer.

If their Legs or VVings happen to be broken or ſplintered, [Page] take away the Pearch, and ſet their Meat and VVater in the bottom of the Cage, and keep them where no Company comes to affright them; and they will ſo order thoſe parts with their Bills, and by favouring them, that they will naturally grow together again.

The Phthiſick is a diſtemper that diſtends the Breaſt-Veins, whilſt their Fleſh falls away, and their Bellies ſwell as if Dropſical; for this, or any Swellings, Inflammation, Impoſthume, Hydropical diſtemper, or Gout, purge them with Beet, as before directed.

For the Aphthae, or ſmall Ulcers in the Mouths of Birds; boil Pompion-ſeeds in VVater, and give them the VVater cool to drink, for three or four days, and when they begin to mend, [Page] give them fine Loaf-ſugar diſſolved in their VVater.

The Pip is known by a hardneſs on the Tongue at the end, ſeldom incident to Birds that feed on Seeds. To remedy this, open the Birds Bill, and take off the hard film with a fine Needle from the tip of the Tongue, rake the ſides of the Bill, and give him as in the foregoing Diſeaſes.

Diſeaſes in the Rump make the Bird Melancholly, and abſtain from Singing, and when you obſerve this, cut off the ſharp part that lies on the top of the Rump, give him cleanſing things in his Meat, and thoſe in his VVater that are Cordial and Refreſhing, as the Juice of Rasberries, Mulberries, or the like.

For the Scowring or Flux of the Belly, take away the Tailfeathers, [Page] and the ſmall ones about the Vent, anoint it with Olive-Oil or Capons Greaſe; and if they be hard-beaked Birds, inſtead of Rape or Hempſeed, give them Pompion-ſeeds, or Seeds of Red-Beets, for two or three days; but if ſoft-beaked the Yolks of Eggs hard boiled.

For Moulting, or unſeaſonably Caſting their Feathers; ſprinkle them twice or thrice a week with Wine not over-ſtrong, then ſet them in the Sun to dry, and hang Greens over their Cage.

For Scowring; give them Water wherein hot Iron has been quenched; for Coſtiveneſs, put a ſmall Quill anointed with Oyl into the Birds Fundament, once or twice a day for two days, and thoſe days give them the Juice of Beet.

[Page] To quicken them to Sing, give them Linſeed, mingled with the Kernel of Pine-Apples, ſmall pounded; put in their Water two or three ſhives of Saffron, and hang agreeable Greens about their Cage.

For Hoarſeneſs, and loſs of Voice, give them the Decoction of Injubes and dried Figs, for two or three days; let them be decocted or boiled in fair Spring-Water, give it for two days, and the next two or three days, the Juice of Beet; and if in Summer, for the advantage of the Dew, let them be all Night in the open Air.

For the Aſthma, or Shortneſs of Breath; drop two or three drops of Oxymel, with a Feather into the Throat of the Bird, mingle ſome of it wi [...]h his Water, and drop white Sugar-Candy in it to diſſolve.

[Page] For Tumours or Impoſthumes in the Head; Cauteriſe the place with a ſmall Hot-Wyre, anoint it with Olive-Oyl mingled with VVood-Aſhes; but before you do this, give them ſome Juice of Beet in their VVater.

To preſerve Birds of all kinds in health, purge them once a Month with Pompion-ſeed, the husk taken off; Lettice, Succory, Beet, Pimpernel, or the Herb Mercury, which laſt is proper to the Linnet; to ſuch Birds as are naturally enclined to duſt themſelves, put Sand or Duſt in their Cages at certain ſeasons, but let it not long remain there, for this duſting rids them of Lice, and other Vermine incident to them; and thoſe that are of a hot nature, and deſire the VVater, ſet them water to waſh in, within [Page] their Cage, that they may do it voluntarily and uncompelled.

Birds fed with Paſte, and ſoft Meats, muſt have their VVater and Meat ſet within the Cage fixed, that they do not overthrow them; in VVinter put to them broken Straw, and in Summer ſweet and cooling Gravel finely ſifted; for this latter, by their picking up ſmall Stones out of it, opens Obſtructions, and prevents many Diſeaſes: the Birds that are abroad doing it by a natural inſtinct, to prevent ſickneſs, ſo that they have always ſuch ſtones in their Gizzards.

Keep their Cages neat, and put their Plumes in order, when you perceive them ſtragling or ſtaring by their fluttering: keep wild Birds dark at the firſt.

Diſeaſes in Poultry, and their Remedies.

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For the Pip: in opening the Bill you will find on the tip of the Tongue a thin Scale growing, which hinders their feeding, and makes them ſicken by leanneſs and ſalling away, this uſually proceeds from their drinking foul water; to remedy it, pull off the Scale with a fine Needle, or your Nail, if it be long and ſharp; ſcrape the ſides of the Bill, to take off the ſcurf, and then with Salt and Vinegar waſh the Fowls mouth.

For the Flux: this is occaſioned by too much moiſtneſs of Meat; for the cure of it, boil Peaſe and Bran in Water wherein a few Slows have been boiled, maſh them, preſs out the Water hard, and give the [Page] Peaſe and Bran to the Fowl firſt in a Morning.

For the Rup: this Diſeaſe cauſes a ſwelling on the Rump, and if not taken care of in time, will corrupt and affect the whole body; it is perceived by the writhing or turning of the Feathers backward, which as ſoon as you do, pull them away, and with a fine Pen [...] knife open the Sore, and preſs it between your Thumb and Fingers, and there will ſqueez [...] out a Coar, then bathe the wound with Salt and Water and in a few times doing it wil [...] be well.

For Li [...]e: theſe mainly afflict Poultry, and much impoveriſh them; for a remed [...] therefore beat Pepper, an [...] boil it in Water, and with th [...] Water when warm, waſh the [...] all over.

[Page] For any ſtoppage in the Belly, &c. anoint a quill with Oyl of Almonds, or Olive Oyl, thruſt it a firſt and ſecond day up their Vents, and give them Linſeed among their Meat.

For defects in the Eyes, take two or three Leaves of Ground-Ivy, chew it in your Mouth, then ſqueeze out the Juice, and anoint the ſore Eyes with it, mixed with faſting-ſpittle.

For any Stinging with Nettles, or Venemous Creatures, mix the Juice of Rue and Butter, till you make them into an Oyntment, and anoint.

For the ſtopping in the Belly.

This ſtoppage in Poultry, is contrary to the Flux, ſo that they cannot move, therefore anoint the Vent, and give them [Page] ſmall bits of Bread, or Corn ſteeped in Man's Urine.

For the Crow-trodden.

If your Hen be trodden with a Crow or Rook, as often they are, you will know it by the ſtaring up of her Feathers, and the hanging of her Wings; give her for this, the Juice of Garlick, Butter, and the Juice of Lawrel-leaves, in little Pills; though if ſhe be fat, the beſt way is to put her to the Spit or Pot, for this misfortune is rarely cured, that is, ſo that the Hen may thrive afterwards.

Divers uſeful Experiments, relating to Poultry.

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For a Hen that Crows.

This ſometimes happens, though it is unnatural; therefore to remedy it, pull her Wings, and give her to eat, either Barley ſcorched, or ſmall Wheat, and for ſeveral days keep her cloſe from other Poultry.

To make a Hen Lay ſoon, and faſt.

To do this, feed her often with Toaſts taken out of Ale or ſtrong Beer, boil Barley and Spelted-Fitches, and give them [Page] to her, and it will cauſe her to Lay well in a little time.

To keep a Hen from Sitting.

If for the ſake of Laying or Fattening her, you are not deſirous to have your Hen Sit, bathe her in cold water, and run a ſmall Feather through her Noſe.

To prevent a Hens eating her Eggs.

If your Hen be ſubject to eat her Eggs, make a piece of Chalk in the likeneſs of an Egg, lay this in her Neſt, and when ſhe has pecked at it till tired, and loſt her labour, ſhe will for the future avoid it, as concluding it fruitleſs.

To keep a Hen from growing too Fat.

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Too much Fatneſs ſpoils their Laying, or produces Eggs without Shells, or elſe very ſmall ones; to remedy this then, to keep them Lean, or in good Plight for Laying, mix their Meat and Water with the Powder of Tile ſheards, or Chalk, and give them Tares twice or thrice a week, and your deſign will be anſwered as well as can be deſired.

How to make a Capon Lead and Brood Chickens.

Let him be luſty, that he may be the better able to defend them againſt the Kite, then ſhut him up in ſome cloſe place with them for ſome time, [Page] and if he refuſe to brood them, ſting his Breaſt and Rump with Nettles, and then their running under him, taking the ſmart away with their heat, will Inure him to it, ſo that being let abroad he will be familiar with them.

The Speedieſt way to Fatten Poultry.

To Feed, and Cram Capons, Fat them, &c.

TAke Farley-meal reaſonably ſifted, mix it with New Milk, mould it well, make it into ſtiff dough, and make it into proportionable Crams, big in the middle, and ſmall at both ends, ſo that it may ſlip into [Page] the Craw without ſtraining; wet them in warm Milk, and give them a full Gorge Morning, Noon and Night, and in a fortnight or three weeks, he will be as Fat as need be deſired.

To Feed, and Fatten Turkeys and Geeſe.

To Fatten this ſort of Fowl, ſod Barly or Oats for the firſt fortnight, and for another fortnight Cram them as the Capon.

To Fatten Geeſe, eſpecially thoſe that are five or ſix months old, when they have been in the Stubble-fields, during the time of Harveſt, and got good fleſh, then chuſe out ſuch as you wou'd feed, and put them into ſeveral cloſe and dark Pens, feed them thrice a day with Oats, and Spelted Beans, and let their [Page] Water be well duſted with Barly-meal, it ſtanding always near them, and by this means they will be very ſat in three weeks.

As for Green Geeſe, after they are a month or ſix weeks old, boil Shag-oats, and feed them with that Seed plentifully, Morning, Noon and Night, and with good ſtore of Milk, or Milk mixed with Water.

To Feed, and Fatten Hens, Pullets, and Cocks.

Give them ſodden Barly and Bran, mixed with the Water wherein they were boiled; keep them cloſe Cooped up, let them have plenty of this for a ſort-night with Water, and they will be well fleſhed and fatted.

To Cram Chickens, take coarſe Wheat-meal, mix it with Milk, and make it into a [Page] Paſte, and let it be rowled up; made into Crams ſuitable, big enough in the middle to ſwallow, and taper at both ends, and ſtrow Parſley and other Greens about the Coop, that they may pick it up, alſo to all the Poultry put a little fine, ſweet Gravel into their Coop, in a Diſh by it ſelf, or in their Water.

To Fatten Duck [...] Wild or Tame.

Pull out the two Fore-quills, and Tail-quills, ſo that they cannot fly high, put them in a walled, or well fenced place, where there are Oſiers, Reeds, or Sedges in, or by the ſide of the Pond, or Water, that they may delight in; and twice a day, that is, Morning and Evening, give them ſcalded Bran, Oats and Fetches, the Guts of Fowl [Page] cut ſhort, pieces of Liver, Lights, or the like.

Swans, their Feeding.

Feed theſe in all ſorts as directed for Geeſe, though they will take up a longer time to Fatten, as ſeven or eight weeks, either Coop them up, or let them walk in ſome private Court; but if you are for Fattening them in haſte, let it be in a Pond well fenced in, where they may land at pleaſure, and place two Troughs, one full of water and Barly, and the other of old dried Mault; and by this means keeping themſelves clean, they will thrive much the better.

To Fatten Pigeons, Partridges, Pheaſants, &c.

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As for Pigeons, let them have Peaſe, Tares, and ſtore of clean Water, and in the Rooms where they are, have a Saltpot, viz. Bay ſalt, mixed with Coriander and Fenel-ſeeds baked, for them to pick at, or that which is gathered from Salt-Petre is the beſt, give them fine ſifted Gravel, or Sand, and they will ſoon grow ſat.

For the Partridge and Pheaſant, alſo the Quail, feed the two firſt in one room, where you may have little Boxes, that they may at pleaſure hide themſelves, and in the midſt of their room, if there be any number of them, have three Wheat-ſheaves, one with its [Page] Ears downwards, and two with theirs upwards; alſo near them ſet ſmall veſſels of VVater, that pecking out the Corn, they may drink at pleaſure, and ſo they will grow fat.

As for the Quails, feed them in long, ſlat, ſhallow Boxes, each box holding a dozen or two of them, the foremoſt ſides being ſet with Pins, ſo thick that they may only put out their heads; then before that open ſide, place a Trough of ſmall Chilter-wheat, and another with VVater, and ſo in a fortnight or three weeks, you will have them exceeding fat.

Godwits, Knots, Grey, Plover or Curlews.

To keep theſe alive, feed, and fatten them, get the fineſt Chilter-wheat, give it them [Page] with VVater, Morning, Noon and Night; but for ſpeedy fatting them, take fine VVheatmeal, mix it with Milk, and make it up into little C [...]ams, ſprinkle into it ſmall grains of Chilter-wheat, till the grains are ſufficiently mixed with the Paſte, and give it them, giving to every Fowl proportionable to his bigneſs and ſtomach.

The order of Feeding Black birds, Thruſhes, Fieldſars, Larks, and other ſmall Birds.

If you take any of theſe wild, and not out of the Neſt, to [...]nure them to feed in Coops or Cages, put them with ſome [...]ame Birds of their kind; let their Cages be large, place ſeveral Troughs in them, filled with Haws, Hempſeed, Wheat, Barly, &c. and ſo finding every [Page] thing agreeable to them, when their ſullen is over, they will feed well, and quickly be fat.

To Fatten Herons, Puits, Gulls and Bitterns.

When you have taken the Herons out of the Neſt, double Pen-feathered, put them into a large incloſed place, and make many high Pearches, and have on the floor divers ſquare boards with rings in them, and have between every board (which ſhould be two yards ſquare, to lace round) Tubs of Water; then feed them with ſmall Fiſh, or large ones cut in ſmall pieces, ſmall pieces of Fleſh, Frogs quartered, large Worms, and the like: as for the Bittern, when you have fed him, you muſt tye his Bill together for a [Page] time, or he will caſt up his Meat again; Puits and Gulls are fed in the ſame manner.

Pea cocks and Pea hens.

Theſe are kept more for beauty and ſhow than food, give them Wheat enough, and they need no tendance in fatting.

THE Compleat Marketer: OR, Rules to know all ſorts of Poulterers Ware, whither Young or Old, New or Stale, by unerring Signs and Tokens.

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THe Pheaſant-Cock, if young, hath its Spurs ſharp, but If old, ſmall and ſharp; if it be new, it will have a firm Vent, but if ſtale, open, and flabby, and if you touch it hard with your finger, it will peel.

[Page] A Pheaſant-Hen if young, has [...]er Legs very ſmooth, and a [...]ooth fine grain on the fleſh of [...], if old the contrary, and [...]hen pulled, full of Hairs; if ſhe [...]e with Egg, ſhe will have a [...] but open Vent, if not, a [...]oſe Vent.

If a Pheaſant-Pout be green the vent, and dry-footed, is ſtale.

A Heath-Pout if it be new, [...]ill be very ſtiff and white in [...]e vent, the feet limber, and [...] fat, hard in the vent; but if [...]ale, green in the vent, dry [...]oted, and touching the vent [...]ill make it peel.

A Heath-Cock is known by [...]e ſame marks as the former.

A Grows, or Female Heath [...]out when pulled, will be ſtiff [...]nd white in the vent, if new, [...]mber-ſooted; but if ſtale, dry [...]oted, and green in the vent.

[Page] A Snipe if fat, will feel thick in the Vent, and have a fat Vei [...] on one ſide under the Wing, but if not, the contrary: if new, it will be limber-footed, i [...] ſtale, dry-footed: but obſerve the Throat, if it be not ſnotty, or the Throat mooriſh and muddy, then it is nought.

An old Partridge is known by its white Bill, and the [...] blewiſhneſs of her Leg, but th [...] Bills of the young are blackiſh and the Legs of a yellowiſh colour, if new, a firm vent; i [...] ſtale, a green open one, which will peel when touched: but i [...] ſhe has eaten green Wheat, and her Crop be full, ſhe may ſtink there, though her other marke appear fair.

A Wood-Cocks Vent if fat, i [...] thick and hard, but if lean, the contrary; if new, limber-footed, if ſtale, dry-footed; look [Page] [...]o the Noſe and Throat, as the Snipe.

A Black-Bird, thick and hard [...] the vent, is fat, and limber [...]oted, young; but the contra [...]y, neither fat nor young.

The Baſtard Plover if fat and [...]ew, will feel full and fat in the [...]ent, and be limber-footed, [...]ut if lean and ſtale the contra [...]y: and ſo you may know as to [...]eſe particulars, the Stone- [...]lover, Green-Plover, Gray- [...]lover, Fieldfair, Mavis, Lark, [...]ood-Lark, Tit-Lark, Bunting, [...]d all ſmall Birds; wherefore [...] repeat it over often will be [...]dious and inſignificant to the [...]eader.

As for Doves of ſundry ſorts, [...] know them in the Feathers, [...]d not be impoſed on by the [...]ulterer or Higler; The [...]rtle-Dove is white for the [Page] moſt part, with a blewiſh rin [...] about its neck.

The Stock-Dove is large than the Wood-Pigeon, and ex [...]cellent Meat.

The Ring Dove is ſmalle [...] than the Stock-Dove, but no [...] ſo good to eat.

The Dove-houſe Pigeon old, is red-legged; and as f [...] their newneſs or ſtaleneſs, o [...] ſerve the directions as for ſm [...] Birds, &c.

The Turky-Cock if your [...] has a Leg blackiſh and ſmoo [...] with a ſhort Spur; if old, a r [...] Leg and a ſharp Spur; if [...] his Eyes ſunk in his Head, a dry-footed; but if new, his [...] appear as if he were alive [...] Turky-Hen the ſame; and full of Eggs, a faſt open ve [...] if not, only a hard vent.

Turky-Pouts or Chick need not have their marks a [...] [Page] Age deſcribed, and to know whether they are new or ſtale, take the foregoing directions.

A Pullet, if a true one, will have a ſmooth Leg and Breaſt, pinching tender on the latter; if with Egg, ſoft in the Belly, and an opent vent, but if not, a cloſe and hard vent.

A Capon, if a true one, will have a fat thick Belly and Rump, a fat Vein on the ſide of the Breaſt; if young, a ſhort blunt Spur, and ſmooth Leg, but ſee it be not pared or ſcraped; if you miſtruſt that trick, pinch it on the Breaſt, and if your Finger or Thumb go in eaſie, then is it young, if not, old; if pale about the Head, and the Comb ſhort, it is a right Capon, if red, then not ſo; as for the foot and vent, it is as in the Pullet, and a Caponet is known by the like marks and tokens; [Page] a Cocks youngneſs is known by his ſhort Spurs; in January a young Hen ſpends better than either Capon or Pullet, and full of Eggs, which is known by her open vent, and the redneſs of her Comb.

Chickens dry pulled, if new they will be ſtiff, their vents white and firm; but if ſtale, they will be limber, and their vents green; if ſcalded, and in water, rub the Breaſt with your Finger, and if new, it will ſee [...] rough, if ſtale, ſlippery: a Crammed Clicken if fat, will have a fat Vent and Rump.

A Shuffler is in likeneſs to a Duck, but leſſer, and a broade Bill, as for God-wards, Ruffs Knots and Marrel, the oldneſs newneſs, and fatneſs are known as is remarked on other Birds.

The Gull is bigger than [...] Duck, as alſo the Dotterel and [Page] Wheat-Ear, being both very good food, as likewiſe the Quail.

The Buffard is an excellent Bird, and as to the newneſs, [...]tneſs, ſtaleneſs, or age, it's [...]nown as the [...]urky.

The Swan, if when pulled and [...]ded, be full of Hairs, is old, [...] the contrary, young; the Vild Gooſe fred-footed, and [...]ll of Hairs, is old, but whit [...] [...]oted, and no [...] full of hairs, [...]ung; the Brand-Gooſe, if [...]ll of hairs old, if ſmooth, [...]ung; the [...]me Goo [...]e, if [...] billed and footed, a [...]d [...]iry is old, but wi [...]h [...]ew hans, [...]e bill and ſo [...]t yellow [...]ſh [...] young: as for their newneſs [...]d ſtaleneſs, they are known the Hen or Capon.

The VVild-Duck when fat, thick and hard on the Belly, at thin and ſoft of lean; if limber [Page] footed, new; if dry-footed, ſtale; and to know a true Wild-Duck, obſerve it has a ſmall reddiſh foot; a Tame Duck as to the newneſs and ſtaleneſs, is the ſame, but has a thicker foot, blackiſh, and ſomewhat enclining to yellow; if ſcalded, try the Breaſt as for Chickens in Water.

Teal, if fat, will feel hard and thick on the Belly; but thin and ſoft denotes leanneſs: limber-footed, new: dry-footed, Stale: and by this Rule chuſe the Nun Water Widgeon, Land Widgeon, Pantail, Whever, Stone Curlew, Curlew Stent, Moor-hen, Di-dappers, Coots, and other Water-fowl: and indeed, by theſe Rules all other Fowl fit for the Table, that ſo you may learn eaſily to be a good Marketer, and not be impoſed on to part with your [Page] Money, or when you come home, laughed at for your little skill.

Four-footed Creatures uſually ſold at the Poulterers, to know whether young or old, new or ſtale.

The Coney or Rabbit, if new killed, will be ſtiff: but if ſtale, ſhe'll have a kind of ſlime upon her, and be very limber: and if a right Coney or Rabbit, it will have a ſmall knot or knob, a little above the joint, on the out-ſide the fore-foot.

A Hare if new killed, will be white, eſpecially if clean killed without ſhot or bruiſes, and very ſtiff: but if ſtale killed, limber, and the fleſh of her will have black upon it.

The Leveret, or young Hare, when new killed, will be ſtiff [Page] and whitiſh: but if ſtale killed, limber, and of a duskey colour, and on the fore-leg of it, near the foot, if it be a true Leveret, it will have a ſmall bone, if not a knob, and if this upon ſearch, with ſtroking down be wanting, ſhe is no Leveret, but a Hare, and conſequently may be old: And thus have I ſhewed you all the myſtery of a Poulterer, as to any thing of this kind, that is material to be known: as to buying and ſelling, the Prizes vary, and are ſo uncertain, that I cannot but reaſonably expect to be accuſed of ſolly, if I ſhould undertake to give directions of that nature: but in the general, look out ſharp, and purchaſe that which is good, at an honeſt Market rate.

How to deſtroy Vermin, or ſuch offenſive Creatures, as are deſtructive to Fiſh, Fowl, Cattel, &c.

[Page]

This muſt needs be acceptable to moſt, ſeeing a great many ſuffer much damage this way, and are at a loſs how to prevent it: therefore though at firſt ſight, it may appear to be ſome digreſſion from the work, I have nevertheleſs choſen to place it at the latter end of it, in ſuch directions as ſeldom have failed the expectations of thoſe that have experienced them to their great advantage, in their Houſes, Barns and Fields.

The Compleat Vermin-killer, ſhewing a Ready way to deſtroy all ſorts of Vermin.

[Page]

To deſtroy Mice and Rats.

BOIL wild Cucumbers in a Pint of Water, with as much Colloquintida, till the Water is almoſt conſumed, then take Oat-flower, and with what remains make a Paſte, and it will when the Rats or Mice eat it, certainly deſtroy them.

Or take Pot Aſhes, and ſcatter them in the holes where the Rats and Mice run, and it will kill them, or make them utterly forſake their haunts, and the Houſe.

[Page] Or Take Helebore Leaves, mix them with Wheat-flower, make it into a Paſte with Live Honey, lay it in the holes, or where the Mice and Rats uſually come, and they will eat and dye ſoon after. Or take very ſmall filings of Iron or Steel, and Hemlock-ſeed, work them up with Wheat-flower into a dough, rowl it up in little Pellets, and toſs it up and down where their haunts are, and when its eaten it deſtroys them.

To ſcare away Mice and Rats.

Take the B [...]ains of a Weaſle, and mix them with Hogs-ſuet, anoint the places with it where they can moſt conveniently come in, and the ſcent of it will affright them back again.

Or take wild Marjoram, burn it on a Chafing-diſh of Coals in [Page] all the rooms, and whilſt the ſcent laſts, they will not appear, and if often continued, they will utterly abandon the place.

Or take a Rat or Mouſes head, take off the skin, and hang it up where they uſually come, and the ſight of it will ſo terrifie them, that they will fly the place.

To gather Rats and Mice together.

Take a Copper, Braſs, or large Earthen Pot, put it into oyldregs, till it is about half full, place it in a convenient place, as near as you can in the middle of the houſe, then ſtrew about it Pot Aſhes, and when the Mice ſcent it, they will come flocking, and running on the Aſhes, it will ſo ſtupifie them, that [Page] you may come in upon them, and deſtroy them at pleaſure.

To make Rats and Mice blind.

Beat Tythimal to pouder, ſift it finely, mix it with an equal quantity of VVheat-flower, add as much Metheglin, as will make it into a ſtiff Paſte, lay it in ſmall pieces in their haunts, and in eating of it, it will make them them blind.

To kill Weaſles.

Take VVheat-flower and Sal-Armoniack, make them into a Paſte with Honey, and throw it in ſmall parcels, in ſuch places where the VVeaſles come, and they greedily eating it, it will prove their Bane.

To gather Weaſles.

[Page]

Take a Lizard's Gut, beat it in half a pint of fair Spring-water, and pour it on the ground, in the places of their haunts, and the ſcent of it will gather them.

To drive away Weaſles.

Take a living Hedge VVeaſle, cut his Tail ſhort, and it being a Hee, his Stones out, turn him looſe, and the very ſight of him will fright all that come near him, to ſeek habitations elſewhere.

To prevent their ſucking Eggs.

Place Rue about the Neſts, and places where your Poultry [Page] reſort to Lay, and they will not come near them.

To kill Moles.

Theſe Underminers, are great ſpoilers of Gardens and Fields; to deſtroy them, take a Jug or Pot, that a has a narrow Neck, put Cedar-wood, Beeswax, Roſin and Brimſtone into it, all very ſmall, ſtop the Moleholes that are near, with Earth, but once caſt out, and into the open hole put the Neck of the Jug, after the combuſtible matter is well fired, and the Air in the Earth will draw it ſo vehemently, that it will ſtifle all the Moles in that place.

Or bruiſe white Hellebor, ſtamped very ſmall, and mixed with Wheat-flower, mix them with the White of an Egg, Milk and Wine, lay little bits [Page] of it well moulded into Cakes, before the holes, and by their eating it, it will deſtroy them.

Garlick and Onions will make them leave their holes, that you may purſue and deſtroy them in the open Fields.

To gather Moles together.

To do this, put a live Mole into an Earthen-Pot, and ſtop it cloſe in the Pot, then put a gentle fire under it, near the haunts of the Moles, and when ſhe feels the heat, ſhe will cry, which will draw all the Moles in hearing about her, that you may eaſily deſtroy them.

To drive Snakes or Adders out of any Out-houſes, Gardens, or Ground.

[Page]

Burn VVall-wort, and ſcatter Rue and VVorm-wood, and the ſcent of theſe will drive them away, as alſo Evets, and other Ven [...]mous Creatures.

Or take the roots of Centory, and lay it in the place where they come, and they will depart. The ſmoak of burnt Soles of Shoes, will drive them away.

To kill Snakes or Adders.

Take the largeſt Radiſhes, pare them ſmall, and ſprinkle them near their haunts, and eating of them they will dye. If you would handle Snakes without danger, waſh your hands in [Page] the Juice of Raddiſh, and they will not bite you.

To gather them to one place, take a handful of Onions, and about ten River Crab-fiſh, pound theſe together, and this mixture laid near their haunts, will gather them together, ſo that you may deſtroy them.

To deſtroy the Pole-cat and Fox.

This is a great deſtroyer of Poultry, and young Rabits, therefore to be even with him, mark the holes he enters at, or his pads or haunts, and there ſet a ſtrong VVire Snare, with a running nooſe, and a deep hole dug in the ground under it, that putting his head in upon the level, the Snare giving forward, he may throw his Body into the hole, and not reaching the ground with his feet, be fairly [Page] hanged; this way the [...] may be taken, though his [...]ning will prevent the [...] be not ſuddenly [...] therefore a Steel [...] [...]aited with a [...] ſooneſt takes him, [...] likelieſt hole of his [...], and covered with [...] or ſhort broken Straw, that [...]izing the firſt Prey [...]h [...]ights on, with his pulling, the Bridge may give way, and the two teethflyers claſping together, catch him faſt by the Neck or Legs. Theſe Traps will take Kites, Hen-hariers, Ring-tails, or Buzzards, that haunt your Chickens, or young Rabbits, deſtroying many of them.

Piſmires to deſtroy.

Take wild Cucumber roots, burn them where the Piſmires [Page] or Ants are, and the ſcent of it will kill them; to preſerve Plants from theſe Inſects, anoint the bottom of the Trees with Lupins beaten ſmall in the dregs of Oyl, and they will not come near it; As for Sugar, or Sweat-meat Boxes, to keep them from it, anoint them with Rubica.

To kill Slugs, or Snails.

Strew the places of their haunts with ſlacked Lime, or Pot-Aſhes, and it will deſtroy them; and to preſerve Corn or other Grain, from being eaten in the Ground by Vermin, mix Sea-Coal Aſhes or Soot, with your Seed, and they will not touch it.

To deſtroy Earwigs.

[Page]

Lay dryed Kexes at the bottom of the Trees, or in any place where they haunt, and they will creep into them, then burn them.

To deſtroy Catterpillars.

Make little fires in the grounds where they are, of wet Hay or Straw, ſprinkle on them Brimſtone, Pitch, and Roſin, and place them ſo that the ſmoak may go over the ground, and among the Trees, by the driving of the Wind, and it will kill them.

To deſtroy Bugs.

[Page]

Anoint the Bedſteads, or places of their moſt reſort, with Oyl of Turpentine; for want of this, with Soap-Lees, or ſtrong Vinegar; for want of theſe take the Juice of Hemlock, and Hen-bane, Burn Storax and Brimſtone in the room, on a Chafing-diſh, the place ſhut as cloſe as may be; and to prevent Suffocating your ſelf, you may retire.

To deſtroy Fleas and Lice.

Take the Roots of Wild Cucumbers, and Worm-wood, and boil them in Pickle, ſprinkle the Water they are boiled in, in the Room, and it will kill the Fleas; to drive them from Beds, take Arſmart or Harts-tongue, [Page] a Herb ſo called, with a long Leaf, growing in moſt Ditches, lay it between the Mat or Sacking and the Bed, and the ſcent will drive them away.

To kill Lice, take Hogslard, Quick-ſilver, and the Juice of Sage, beat them together into an Oyntment, and anoint the body, and the Lice, if any are in your Cloaths will dye, and no ſtock renew in a long time.

To deſtroy Nits, Head-lice, Crab-lice, &c.

For the two firſt, take Sandarach Gum, or red Orpiment and Salt-Peter, of each a dram; and if Lice two drams, mix theſe well together with Oyl Olive and Vinegar, and by anointing the Head, or the Cap you put [Page] on at Night, it will deſtroy them e're Morning.

For the laſt, take the Skin and Coar out of a Roaſted Apple, bruiſe it well in a Mortar, with a little Quick-ſilver, and powder of Sulphur, make it into a kind of a Poultis or Oyntment, and apply to the grieved part.

To deſtroy Flies.

Take Hellebor, a Herb ſo called, bruiſe it, ſteep it in new Milk, mix with Orpiment, and ſprinkle the rooms where any Swarms of Flies come, and they will either avoid the place, or dye away.

The Supplement.

[Page]

To take young Hawks.

IF you look for Hawks, it muſt be in very high Woods, their Neſts being always in the oftieſt Oaks, but the beſt way to take them, is when they have juſt left their Neſts, yet upon occaſion return to it again, is not daring to truſt too much to the VVing, their haunts you may obſerve by their Mutings, then creep cloſe under the Trees, and take notice of their ways coming in, or going from the Neſt, among the thickeſt Trees or Boughs, for they uſually take but one direct way, when they come any thing near the Neſt.

VVhen you have done this, [Page] watch the old Hawks going out to provide Proviſion for them, and in her abſence climb up ſoftly, and having a Net or Nets made of Green Thred, to be the leſs diſcernable, place it between the Arms of the Trees, they uſually paſs through, with drawing ſtrings faſtened to ſome branches, ſo that when they unadviſedly enter into the Cod, and flutter, their puſhing forward may draw the ſtrings and take them. Thus you may take young Crows, Pyes, Rooks on the like, that build in VVoods as ſoon as flown.

To take the Fox with a Hook.

To do this have a large Fiſh hook or two, faſten them to convenient place where he haunts your Poultry, at the en [...] of ſtrong Lines, bait them wit [...] [Page] [...] piece of a dead Chicken, or other Raw fleſh, ſo that the Hooks may hang a little out of his reach, and he cannot get the Bait without leaping at it, then ſhut up your Poultry, that he can meet readily with no other Prey; then ſcenting this, he will greedily leap at it, and hanging faſt to draw it off, the Hook will faſten in his Jaws, and hold him above the ground, that he may eaſily be taken.

And thus Reader, I hope I have given you ample ſatisfaction in theſe matters, not doubting your approbation of what I have written, for your pleaſure and profit.

FINIS.

§

[Page]

THere is lately publiſhed▪ The True Art of Angling; Or, The Beſt and Speedieſt way of Taking all ſorts of Freſh-Water Fiſh with the Worm, Fly, Paſte, and other Baits, in their proper ſeaſons; how to know the Haunts of Fiſh, and Angle for them in all Waters and Weathers, at the Top, Middle, and Bottom, Baiting of the Ground, Night Baits, Oyls, and Oyntments, Baits Natural and Artificial: The ſeveral ways of Angling; To make Oyl of Aſper, and many rare Secrets never before made publick; containing the whole Body of Angling, and Myſtery of a Compleat Angler. By J. S. Gent. A Brother of the Angle. Printed for Geo. Conyers at the Golden Ring, and John Sprint, at the Bell, in Little Britain. Price [...]d.

[Page]

Information about this book

Title statement

The experienc'd fowler: or, The gentleman, citizen, and country-man's pleasant and profitable recreation Containing, I. The true art of taking water and land fowl, with divers kinds of nets, lime-twigs lime-bushes, and how to make the best bird-lime. II. Directions for bat-fowling, lowbelling, tramelling, and driving fowl, how to find their haunts, and take them with springes, snares, &c. III. An exact method for using the fowling-piece at a true level, to shoot at the water, ground, bush or flying. ... By J. S Gent.

Smith, John, d. 1684.

Edition statement

1697

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :

Date

2005-12 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A60476

ID [STC]

Wing S4108C

ID [STC]

ESTC R220081

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

99831510

ID [PROQUEST]

99831510

ID [VID]

35973

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Series

Early English books online.

Notes

(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A60476)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 35973)

Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 2045:12)

Source

— The experienc'd fowler: or, The gentleman, citizen, and country-man's pleasant and profitable recreation Containing, I. The true art of taking water and land fowl, with divers kinds of nets, lime-twigs lime-bushes, and how to make the best bird-lime. II. Directions for bat-fowling, lowbelling, tramelling, and driving fowl, how to find their haunts, and take them with springes, snares, &c. III. An exact method for using the fowling-piece at a true level, to shoot at the water, ground, bush or flying. ... By J. S Gent., Smith, John, d. 1684..

Extent

[8], 159, [1] p. : ill. (woodcuts)

printed for Jo. Sprint, at the Blue Bell, and G. Conyers, at the Ring, in Little Britain,. London :: 1697.. (J. S. = John Smith.) (With a final page of advertisement.) (Tightly bound; some print show-through.) (Reproduction of the original in the British Library.)

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