The gentlemans recreation in two parts : the first being an encyclopedy of the arts and sciences ... the second part treats of horsmanship, hawking, hunting, fowling, fishing, and agriculture : with a short treatise of cock-fighting ... : all which are collected from the most authentick authors, and the many gross errors therein corrected, with great enlargements ... : and for the better explanation thereof, great variety of useful sculptures, as nets, traps, engines, &c. are added for the taking of beasts, fowl and fish : not hitherto published by any : the whole illustrated with about an hundred ornamental and useful sculptures engraven in copper, relating to the several subjects.

To take Pheasants with a Cocking-Cloth, in Crowing time.

TAke a Cloth of course Canvas about an Ell square, which put in a Tan-Pit to colour [ 60] it, which vvill be soon done; then hem it about, and to each Corner of the Cloth sow a piece of Leather about three Inches square, and put two Sticks to go cross-wise to keep it out, as A, B, C, D, and there must be a Hole in the Cloth to look out of, as E; the Figure describeth it.

[illustration]

And being provided with a small short Gun, when you are near enough hold out the afore∣said Cloth at Arms end, and put the Nosel of the Gun out of the Hole, which serves as a Rest for the Gun, and so let Fly, and you will seldom miss; for Pheasants at this time will let you come near them, and the Cocks will be so bold as to fly at it.

In this Season the Pheasants use Hedge-rows and Coppices, and by their Crowing you vvill know where to find them.