SHOOTING SONG-BIRDS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 865, 8 January 1930, Page 9

SHOOTING SONG-BIRDS

“SPORT” IN ITALY ROAST THRUSH WITH SAGE The “sport” of shooting and snaring song-birds is very popular all over Italy, especially in Tuscany. Perhaps even here (says the Florence corres- " pondent of the “Observer,” London) it is not quite so prevalent as it was in the old days when every villa had its “uccellatoio” or little thicket to which birds were lured by the call of tame caged birds trained for the purpose. They -were either shot or, more frequently, caught alive on twigs smeared with bird-lime, artfully concealed among the trees, and dispatched by having their necks wrung. Yet so long as thrushes, larks, and their kind, roasted on a skewer with, sage leaves, continue to be a favourite winter dish, so long will the little victims of the banquet continue to be snared, and the bird-fair at Porta Romana, held from time immemorial, provides the wherewithal. The fair starts very early. Long before daylight, country bird-trainera begin to arrive from far s.nd near, with hosts of tiny wicker cages each containing a song-bird. The variety is infinite. Chaffinches and thrushes fetch the highest prices. The cruel custom of blinding birds to improve their singing is now forbidden by law, and severely punished ! if detected.