RABBIT TRAP 239 



the side boards, thus making the opening four inches wide and six inches 

 high. The door, D, is made of wire, shaped as shown in fig. d, and hung 

 with two staples, cc, to the under side of the top board. To prevent 

 the rabbit from pushing the door open, a strip three-fourths of an inch 

 square is inserted in the opening and nailed to the bottom board, as 

 shown in fig. a, and in part in fig. d. The door must be made long 

 enough to reach well below this catch, as shown in fig. d. The trigger 

 is made of wire, bent as shown in figs, b and c, and hung loosely with 

 two staples to the center of the top board. These staples must be 

 carefully placed, to allow the trigger to be pulled forward far enough 

 so that the door will rest upon it when the trap is set, and also to allow 

 the loop in the trigger, A, fig. c, to be pushed against the back of the 

 trap by the rabbit when it is sprung, thus preventing its being bent. 

 To operate the trap, push the door, D, inward, and with the forefinger 

 catch the hooked end of the trigger, B, fig. c, and pull it forward until 

 the door rests upon the wire above the hook. The rabbit enters the 

 trap, prompted by curiosity or otherwise, just as he enters a hollow 

 log, and thinks no more of the wire trigger than he would of a small 

 piece of brush which he must push out of his way. As soon as he 

 touches the trigger, the door drops and the rabbit is caught. No bait 

 is used, and the trap cannot easily be sprung by birds or wind. Care 

 must be taken to see that all staples are loosely set, so that the trigger 

 slides easily and the door will drop of its own weight. If new boards 

 are used, it would be well to stain with some dark coloring material 

 which is not offensive to the rabbit's delicate sense of smell. 



2. Wrapping. When one has only a few trees, such as fruit or 

 shade trees, the most satisfactory method is to wrap them. An ordinary 

 tree veneer which is made of very thin wood may be purchased from 

 any seed store or nursery company. This fits closely about the body 

 of the tree, and will enlarge as the tree grows. However, during the 

 summer it may offer a harbor for injurious insects, and should remain 

 on the tree only during the winter. Trees may be wrapped with bur- 

 lap, corn-stalks, or ordinary lath. The only caution with any of these 

 is to remove them when the tree resumes growth in the spring. Ordi- 

 nary wire screen answers very well as a protection for the tree. 



3. Repellents. The tree may be covered as far as the rabbit can 

 reach with blood. The entrails and blood of the rabbit itself rubbed 

 over the tree is quite effective, but is very apt to be washed off by rain. 



