BRITISH SONtt BIRDS. 



287 



" spreader" is the next thing to be made, 

 and for it a little switch of about eighteen 

 inches in length is requisite; the small 

 end of it must be bent back, and fas- 

 tened to within an inch or thereabouts of- 

 the thicker end, so as to form a loop as 

 in Fig. 2, and at the latter end a notch 

 must be cut for the purpose of receiving 

 the catch before mentioned. A " stump," 

 Fig. 3, and a " bender," or pliant bit of 

 switch, Fig. 4, each about eighteen inches 

 in length, complete the springle. The method of setting it is the 

 following : Drive the stump, Fig. 3, into the ground, put the 

 loop of the spreader over it, as Fig. 2, and at about the length 

 of the spreader from the stump, thrust the ends of the bender 

 firmly into the ground, as Fig. 4 ; then put the thick end of the 

 springer into the ground at a little' distance from the bender, as 

 in Fig. 1, and bend it down until you can place one end of the 

 catch upwards, on the outside' of the bender, and then raise the 

 spreader about an inch from the ground, and put the smaller end of 

 the catch in the notch, by which arrangement the spreader will be 

 held in its proper position, and the springer prevented from jerking 

 up without some cause. Arrange the horse-hair slip-knot loosely 

 round the spreader and stump, 

 and scatter some seed inside it, 

 and also sparingly outside, and 

 for a little space around, to at- 

 tract the birds to the more 

 plentiful supply within the 

 spreader; and the springle is 

 then completely prepared, as 

 shown in the illustration. Its action is very simple, being as fol- 

 lows : When a bird, attracted by the seed, perches upon the 

 spreader, it falls with his weight, the catch is instantly freed, and in 

 consequence, the springer flies up, ensnaring the poor bird in the 

 slip-knot, either by the legs, neck, wings, or body. If the trappist 

 wishes to take the birds alive, he must keep watch and ward within 

 sight of the trap, so that as soon as one is imprisoned, he may run 

 and take it out, else the poor bird will either strangle or beat itself 

 to pieces in its vain endeavours to escape. 



The CLAP NET is used for taking larks and other small birds, and 

 the method is styled daring or doring. As the construction of this 

 species of net is much too complex for our readers to attempt manu- 

 facturing any for themselves, and the sport being somewhat difficult, 

 and only followed by men who make a living by bird-catching, we 

 shall pass it over. 



The NIGHTINGALE TRAP is of an oblong shape, about four inches 

 in depth, with a perch or stick to support the top, which is so 

 placed as to fall and secure the bird the instant he hops in to get at 

 the bait. 



