386 Practical Game Preserving. 



such a plan cannot prove to be other than a failure. The 

 price, we believe, of one of these weapons of such 

 murderous intent is 3 guineas (a very important considera- 

 tion), while the strength of the trap, when the so-called 

 jaws fly together, is sufficient to break a fox's back or a 

 man's arm should either happen to get between them. 



In winter time, when there is heavy snow on the ground, 

 this trap can occasionally be employed to advantage, for 

 during such times the varmints are often hungry enough 

 to lose that discretion which is a noted characteristic of 

 their kind, and run many risks which they would not were 

 their hunger less acute. When the snow begins to fall, pro- 

 cure a large piece of " high " flesh, a dead fowl, or similar 

 effectual lure, and having proceeded to a spot where the 

 foxes are considered as sure to pass, or where they gene- 

 rally frequent, lay the trap down, and, having secured the 

 bait to the trigger wire, set the trap, but the utmost care 

 must be taken in so doing not to allow one's arm or hand 

 to be caught between the jaws in the event of a slip 

 taking place. The trap, owing to mode of working by 

 breaking the back of any fox caught does not require 

 fastening, and should be left to become covered by the 

 falling snow. Any varmint passing, and to which food is 

 exceedingly welcome, is certain to wind the bait, and after 

 scenting about, to commence to scratch down in order to 

 obtain the desired food. Immediately it moves the bait 

 with its foot, it springs the machine and is caught. Never- 

 theless, the trap is even for this purpose very well replaced 

 by the gin ; instead, however, of placing the bait on the 

 trap or traps, it is set on the ground, and the two gins, 



