704 



suit in the i-aptuiT of tlu- di'slruviT. (ku liciihil.v if it 

 be a raptorial bird. 



Hawks and some otlier birds! of jin-.v ran be easily 

 eauglit by setting a steel traji on tlie top of a tree 

 stump or pole and ])laoin2 a bait under the trap. A 

 Mouse, small bird, or chicken can be used, i^ome- 

 times a live chicken c^r i>igeon tied near the pole or 

 stump on which the tiap rests is used to lure the 

 Hawk or Owl, which often will fly to the elevated 

 perch before swooping down upon it. The detrimen- 

 tal species of Hawks are not as apt to be caught by 

 steel traps with live bait as are the beneficial species; 

 especially the Red-tail species. Steel traps set in 

 grass fields or meadows slightly covered with grass 

 and weeds, and baited with dead mice or English 

 Sparrows tied to the pan. often serve as attractive 

 baits to catch Hawks and Owls. 



The Cooi>er"s Hawk. Sharp-shinucd Hawk and Oos- 

 hawk, are the three sj^ecies in this State which are a 

 scourge to the poultry yard. They all, as well as the 

 Duck Hawk, it is said, can be destroyed by the "plank 

 and wire" Hawk trap, a Yankee invention that is 

 easily constructed. It consists of a piece of plank 

 two and a half to three feet square, set with stiff and 

 sharp-pointed perpendicular wires each about eighteen 

 inches to two feet long. This is i)laced on the ground 

 in a conspicuous place and (he jilank is covered witli 

 grass and dirt, or, in winter, with snow lif ground is 

 covered with snowl and a live .•hicken or pigeon is se- 

 cured to tlu' centre. Tlie Hawk seeing this pounces 

 down to be impaled on the sharp-i)ointed upwright 

 wires. The Great Horned Owl. Rarred Owl, Snowy 

 Owl. and Eagles havr. it is said, been successfully cap 

 fared hv this contrivance. 



