THE BULLFINCH 189 



than one-third full. Place it over a slow fire and stir it until it 

 thickens as much as required, which is ascertained by cooling the 

 stick in water and trying if it will stick to the fingers. When suffi- 

 ciently boiled, pour into cold water and it will be found ready for 

 use. About four hours of slowly boiling are required for the oil 

 to become sufficiently tenacious for use. 



When birdlime is about to be applied or used, it should be made 

 hot, and the rods or twigs should be warmed a little before they are 



FIG. in. THOMAS & Co.'s 1 DOUBLE CAGE TRAP. 



dipped in it. In order to prevent birdlime from being congealed 

 by cold, it should be mixed with a little oil of petroleum. The 

 common kind of bird-lime must be melted over the fire with a third 

 part of nut-oil or any thin grease, if that has not been added in 

 the preparation. 



In lining for bullfinches without a call-bird, the main branch of 

 any bushy tree, with long, straight and smooth twigs, such as the 

 birch and willow, should be cleared from all the useless spray; 

 then lime the branches to within four fingers of the bottom, leaving 

 the stem from which the branches spring untouched, and then place 

 the bush where the birds resort, and so as to be above the bushes of 

 gooseberries if placed there to capture the depredators on the buds. 



For taking the smaller kinds of birds other than bullfinches and 



1 360 and 362, Edgware Road, London, W. 



