388 APPENDIX 



well into the ground at the back of the fence, exactly 

 opposite the gateway, and about 5 feet from it. 



To the top of this is tied a piece of string, which i^ 

 then pulled over the central archway until the sapling is 

 in a bow shape over the trap. While in this strained 

 position the point where the string touches the crown of 

 the archway is noted, and here the string is firmly tied 

 round a thin piece of stick, some 6 inches long, at about 

 an inch from one end of it. This piece of stick is then 

 pulled down beJihid and under the crown of the entrance 

 arch, and the end of it to which the string has been tied 

 is placed against the outside of the crown of the arch. 

 Holding the string taut in this position with one hand, 

 a cross-piece of about 9 inches is momentarily held with 

 the other hand low down against the arched rods at each 

 side of the entrance. The tip of the lower end of the 

 stick to which the string is attached is then placed outside 

 and against this short cross-piece so that it grips it and 

 holds it in position by the great strain on the string 

 attached to the sapling. The string does not end where 

 it is knotted to the 6-inch stick, but is continued in 

 the form of a running noose, which is made into a 

 large loop and spread out over the open space round the 

 9-inch cross-piece, so that the bird will not go through the 

 opening into the trap without first hopping on to the cross- 

 stick. A suitable bait of bird food is placed inside the door- 

 way, and the trap is then ready for action. The moment 

 the bird perches on the cross-stick the latter drops down, 

 and the sapling at the back being then released flies up with 

 great force, pulling the noose tight on to the bird at the 

 same time. The speed with w^hich the sapling springs back 

 is generally enough to kill the bird outright, as it is dashed 

 against the crown of the entrance arch rod while in the 

 tight embrace of the noose, 



