The apparatus usually employed for the capture of the peregrine, the shahin and other falcons is a well-limed piece of cane, about the length of the expanse of a falcon’s wings.  To the middle of this a dove, of which the eyelids have been sewn up, is tied.  When a wild falcon appears on the scene the bird-catcher throws into the air the cane with the luckless dove attached to it.  The dove flies about aimlessly, being unable to see, and is promptly pounced upon by the falcon, whose wings strike the limed cane and become stuck to it; then falcon and dove fall together to the ground, where they are secured by the bird-catcher.

Another method largely resorted to is to tether a myna, or other small bird, to a peg driven into the ground, and to stretch before this a net, about three feet broad and six long, kept upright by means of two sticks inserted in the ground.  Sooner or later a bird of prey will catch sight of the tethered bird, stoop to it, and become entangled in the net.

A third device is to catch a buzzard and tie together some of the flight feathers of the wing, so that it can fly only with difficulty and cannot go far before it falls exhausted to the ground.  To the feet of the bird of which the powers of flight have been thus curtailed a bundle of feathers is tied.  Among the feathers several horsehair nooses are set.  When a bird of prey, of the kind on which the falconer has designs, is seen the buzzard is thrown into the air.  It flaps along heavily, and is immediately observed by the falcon, which thinks that the buzzard is carrying some heavy quarry in its talons.  Now, the buzzard is a weakling among the raptores and all the other birds of prey despise it.  Accordingly, the falcon, unmindful of the proverb which says that honesty is the best policy, swoops down on the buzzard with intent to commit larceny, and becomes entangled in the nooses.  Then both buzzard and falcon fall to the ground, struggling violently.  All that the bird-catcher has to do now is to walk up and secure his prize.

October marks the beginning of a lull in the nesting activities of birds, a lull that lasts until February.  As we have seen, the nesting season of the birds that breed in the rains ends in September, nevertheless a few belated crow-pheasants, sarus cranes and weaver-birds are often to be found in October still busy with nestlings, or even with eggs; the latter usually prove to be addled, and this explains the late sitting of the parent.  October, however, is the month in which the nesting season of the black-necked storks (Xenorhynchus asiaticus) begins, if the monsoon has been a normal one and the rains have continued until after the middle of September.  This bird begins to nest shortly after the monsoon rains have ceased.  Hard-set eggs have been taken in the beginning of September and as late as 27th December.  Most eggs are laid during the month of October.  The nest is a large saucer-shaped platform of twigs and sticks.  Hume once found one “fully six feet long and three broad.”  The nest is usually lined with grass or some soft material and is built high up in a tree.  The normal number of eggs is four, these are of a dirty white hue.