sentences:  The actual tapping was not done by hand, nor was it done particularly gently or subtly.The sticks (or wands) used to do the tapping were usually long straight poles of stout local woods, and were sometimes tipped with either brass knobs, forks (both added and natural in the wood), or fox tails.In some regions of England there was a clear definition of which tips were for what purpose, sometimes to the extent of the stick having two ends.