A Comhhird ScnJ-liojiprr and Bird Trap. 311 



A caroful sliui.v of tli'^ pliolo^ will show Mint it consists 

 of a box with o|mmi Front. oxc.>|>t for tho drawor at Iwttom, 

 which cat. -lies up lli.> sc<m1 liusk^; at th.' lia-k aiv two r-om- 

 parlments witli ^Ha^s fronts one for inilfrt, the othor for 

 canary seed: the seed fall;; .low., into a trouirh Cwith a por- 

 forated zinc bottom to lot dust thi'outrh) from which the liirds 

 feed; a rannry is scm f.M^diii- jn the r'lo'o' Tlio seed 'com- 

 partments ai-c lilh^l wli^Mi iK^ressai'y l)y takinir o(T tho top 

 of the box: thoy only ro piirc lilliuir pci-liap> once a month, 

 according- to the nuniiKT of hied;: Avhonov-M' nni'.ty and before 

 re-fillin,i;' it sliould I'C s(M«n that the trou.,Lr!i is clean and free 

 from du.->t and husks. 



A loose board rests on the top of the drawer beneath 

 the perch, so as to catch any scattered seed, whir-Ii may be 

 picked up before min.irlinfr with the hudvs, liut tlie use of this 

 board is optional; but the l)oard would probalily be useful for 

 birds larger than Finches {e.g. Doves), to stand upon while 

 feeding. The top of box slopes off from front to back so 

 as to carry off wet. An iron pin is fitted into a block in 

 centre of bottom of box the other end of this pin must be' 

 let into tli(> top of a larcli oi- other past (see photos), jusit tiglit 

 enougli to r(>main in any ])osition it is turned to: by thi;-^ 

 means the back of the box can be turned towards the wind 

 and driving rain. 



When it is required to catch up any l)i)-d. the wire 

 frame, as shown, in bottom photo of plnte, is fixed dm the 

 previous day if possible): the platform, which is seen in both 

 photos, also acts as a door and is hinged; it is upheld^ by a 

 wooden support, Avhich also acts as handle to drawer! Tt is 

 well also to attach the string, by which the door is closed, on 

 the previous day for the birds to get used to it — this string 

 should be carried through wire netting of aviary to about three 

 yards off. I usually pull up the door and close the feeding-box 

 l>efore attempting "a catch," this makes the birds hungry and 

 quite ready to go and feed as soon as the trap is opened and 

 makes the capture a simple matter indeed— usually a bird can 

 fie captured within the half hour or less, and with no seare to 

 the other birds in the aviary. "When the wanted bird has 

 entered the trap the string nuist be puller] 'n/.'^lmilaneonsly, care 

 being taken that no bird is on the platform or in the gangway 



