un is about an hour high; but no
longer; and from Sun-set till Twilight; these being their feeding times.

For the small (Water) Fowl. Observe the Evening is best before Sun-set.
Stake down your Nets on each side the River half a foot within the
Water, the lower part so plumb'd as to sink no further; the upper
Slantwise shoaling against, but not touching by two foot, the water, and
the Strings which bear up this upper side fastned to small yielding
sticks prickt in the Bank, that as the Fowl strike may ply to the Nets
to intangle them. And thus lay your Nets (as many as you please) about
twelve score one from another, as the River or Brook will afford. And
doubt not your success. To expedite it however, a Gun Fired three or
four times in the Fens and Plashes, a good distance from your Nets, will
affright and Post them to your Snares; and so do at the Rivers, when you
lay in the Fens.

Winter time is the most proper for taking all manner of Small Birds, as
flocking then promiscuosly together, _Larks_, _Lennets_, _Chaffinches_,
_Goldfinches_, _Yellow-Hammers_, &c. with this _Bird-lime_, Put to a
quarter of a Pound of _Bird-lime_, an ounce of fresh _Lard_, or
_Capons-grease_, and let it gently melt together over the Fire, but not
Boyl; then take a quantity of _Wheat-ears_, as you think your use shall
require, and cut the straw about a foot long besides the Ears, and from
the Ear lime the straw six Inches; the warmer it is, the less
discernible it will be. Then to the Field adjacent, carrying a bag of
Chaff, and thresh'd Ears, scatter them twenty Yards wide, and stick the
lim'd ears (declining downwards) here, and there; Then traverse the
Fields, disturb their Haunts, and they will repair to your Snare, and
pecking at the Ears, finding they stick to them, mount; and the Lim'd
straws, lapping under their Wings, dead their flight, they cannot be
disengaged, but fall and be taken they must. Do not go near them, till
they rise of their own accord, and let not five or six entangled lead
you to Spoil your Game, and incur the loss of Five or Six dozen.

_Lime-Twigs_, is another Expedient for taking of great Fowl, being Rods
that are long, small, strait, and pliable, the upper part apt to play to
and fro; being besmeared with _Bird-lime_ warm. Thus to be used,
Observe the Haunts of the Fowl, have a Stale, (a living Fowl of the same
kind you would take) and cross pricking your Rods, one into, and
another against the Wind sloping,