THE MOUSE 



141 



(r), with, when the fall is light, a brick (s). Three pieces of wood 

 (plasterer's lath) support the top slate or fall ; the upright or stan- 

 dard (t), formed like a wedge at the upper part, catch (u) notched 

 across about one-fourth from the upper end, and feather-edged at 

 the other, and base (v) carrying the bait at one end, notched to fit 

 the upright, and notched in front to receive the catch or part bear- 

 ing the crushing slate. Bait: cheese crust (the best), broad bean 



FIG. 90. FIGURE 4 TRAPS. 



L, figure 4 garden trap : q, tile or slate, called fall ; r, foundation slate (advisable on soft or cloddy 

 ground) ; s, brick (desirable when fall light) ; t, upright ; u, catch ; v, base. M, figure 4 heavy 

 fall trap for rats, stoats, weasels, etc. : w, large square piece of stone or thick slate, called fall ; 

 x, upright or limb ; y, slanting stick or catch ; z, horizontal piece or stretcher ; a, flat stone 

 level with surface of ground to prevent upright sinking into soil ; b, firm level surface a little 

 larger than size of fall ; c, bait for rats, stoats, and weasels " drawings " of poultry "or game, a small 

 chick, young rabbit in pieces, or pieces of wood pigeon, rats being partial to head of toasted red 

 herring. 



or pea, set clear of the bottom. A mouse nibbling at the bait dis- 

 turbs the hold of the catch on the base or that of the upright, and 

 down comes the slate, providing the standard be sufficiently for- 

 ward for the catch to throw it forward enough to let the slate drop ; 

 otherwise it acts as a prop. 



The figure 4 trap L is drawn to a scale of \ in. equals i in., and 

 is the size usually employed in gardens, nurseries, etc. for mice, 

 a brick being employed as a fall. For larger animals, such 



