TRAPPING BIRDS FOR PENS. 97 



tion of the old -fashioned sieve trap, so arranged as to be self- 

 acting, or, in other words, to require no watching. The 

 accompanying sketch will make all clear. A is an iron hoop off 

 a large cask, covered with slack netting. At the point where 

 it touches the ground a peg is driven in, to which the hoop is 

 tied, or, as it were, hinged. Another short peg is driven in 

 at D, on the top of which rests a cross-piece C, above which 

 again comes the long upright which supports the hoop. From 

 each end of the cross-piece C, a piece of twine is carried to 

 A, the twine being only a very little way oft' the ground. This 

 acts as a trigger, and the moment a bird feeding under the 

 hoop comes in contact with the twine, the cross-piece C is 

 jerked away, and the trap falls. 



Some breeders prefer large baskets six feet square by one 

 foot deep, made of strong willow covered with canvas, to the 

 sieve. This is propped up securely, and the pheasants feed 

 under it for several days before they are caught. It is then 

 raised by a single stick, from which a long wire or cord 

 proceeds to a tree or shelter many yards distant. This is for 

 the purpose of pulling away the stick and catching the birds 

 that are feeding underneath it. Open crates are sometimes 

 recommended to be used in the same way, but they are not 

 desirable, as the birds injure themselves in the endeavour 

 to escape. 



Another plan of a somewhat similar character, which has 

 proved most successful in use, is the catcher represented 

 on the next page. It is made of deal, to be as light as 

 possible, and can be painted brown. The size at the bottom 

 should be about 2ft. 4in. .square, and at the top about 1ft. 

 square, covered with a lid (Fig. 2), to enable the bird to 

 be removed. To set it, as shown in the sketch, a bender is 

 placed round from A to B, care being taken that it does not 

 quite reach the front. Two sticks, C and D, are used, a 

 notch should be cut in C about 6in. from the bottom, to 

 admit the top of stick D; the lower end of C resting 

 against the bender ; and when the catcher is placed on 



