Ground Vermin Catching Wild Cats. 309 



of an inch. D should be a piece of iron or brass, the 

 opposite metal to the two pegs ee> and has a hole in it 

 through which to attach the string holding the weight. F 

 is a piece of iron having a running pulley set in it at its 

 curved end, it is fastened on above the bell spring and 

 has the form of a miniature davit. The weight g should be 

 about 3in. wide and 2ft. long. It is held up by the string 

 fastened to a staple in its actual centre. To set this 

 trap press the spring c down, and the point of it just 

 beneath the point of b, then set the weight in position on 

 the top of the trap, placing the string over the pulley, down 

 the davit f, and fix the piece of metal at its end, beneath 

 ee the pins. Anything running through the trap presses 

 the treadle down on one side, the bell-spring is released 

 throwing out d, the spring being then free, the weight drops 

 instantaneously and crushes the animal which sets off the 

 trap. 



We have made many modifications of this, all on the 

 same principle as far as the treadle and catch are concerned, 

 replacing the weight by an arrangement for dropping a 

 door at each end and so catching the animal alive; also 

 one with a single door of similar kind. 



The means of capture for the wild cat are of considerably 

 more importance than those for the more common and 

 smaller vermin. Owing to the nature of its habits and 

 the secluded localities which it haunts, it is a much more 

 uncertain animal to deal with, and the exact neighbourhood 

 of its lair is often only determined after long and pains- 

 taking search. The extensive nature of the destruction it 

 works, more especially amongst game, necessitates imme- 



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