ul, indeed, as the gathering of "samphire."

But what is this trade? What is all this contrivance for--these nets
and tall masts, with "crows' nests" at their tops? What are the boys
doing up there? And what are they about below--those men, women, and
children--a crowd composed of all ages and all sexes? What are they
doing?

_Pigeon-catching_. That is what they are doing, or rather what they are
aiming to do, as soon as the opportunity offers. These people are
simply pigeon-catchers.

What sort of pigeons? and where do they come from? These questions must
be answered.

To the first, then, the answer is the common European wild pigeon
(_columba palumbis_). It is well-known in England by the name of
"wood-pigeon," and in France it is called _ramier_. In England the
wood-pigeon is not migratory. In that country there is a much milder
winter than is experienced in the same or even a more southerly latitude
on the Continent. This enables the pigeon to find food throughout all
the year, and it therefore remains in England. In continental
countries--Prance among the number--the severity of the winter forces it
southward; and it annually migrates into Africa--the supposed limit of
its flight being the chain of the Atlas mountains. Of course the
wood-pigeon is only one of many birds that make this annual tour,
taking, as the rest do, a "return ticket."

Now the _ramiers_ of France, in passing southward, must ply their wings
a little more strenuously to mount over the snowy summits of the
Pyrenees; but they only commence ascending to this higher elevation when
near the mountains. The ridge at Bagneres chances to lie in the line of
their flight--of course, not of all of them, but such as may be sweeping
along in that particular meridian; and, passing between the tall trees
already mentioned, they get caught in the meshes of the nets. The
moment they strike these--several of them coming "butt" against one at
the same instant,--a trigger is pulled by the men--who are below
concealed under screens--and this trigger, acting on a string, causes
the net to drop, with the fluttering victims safely secured in its
meshes.

When the flight has passed, the women, girls, boys, and even the
children, rush forth from their hiding-places; and, seizing the
struggling birds, put a quick termination to their fruitless efforts, by
biting each of them in the neck. Old, half-toothless crones--for this
is especially their part