CHAPTER XLIII. WINGED VERMIN. 



TAKING CROWS AND ROOKS. 



FOR crows and rooks the usual sized rabbit gins are 

 perhaps the best to employ. They should be those 

 with the softest springs soft not in the ease with which 

 they break, but in their action when springing up so that 

 they rise easily, and close the jaws as gently as is compatible 

 with the necessary quickness. With regard to the jaws, 

 opinions differ as to whether it is advisable to bind them 

 over with string, so as to lessen the cutting power ; but we 

 prefer the gins without any binding, being careful only to 

 choose those with springs of the kind mentioned, and 

 having the teeth rounded in the now usual pattern, instead 

 of a plain zigzag. Some prefer to use traps with no teeth 

 at all, the jaws being in the old-fashioned style, but having 

 a plain edge. The same may be said of them, however, as 

 of those with the small sharp teeth namely, that they are 

 likely to cut off the foot of the bird caught, and thus allow 

 it to escape, but minus one or both of its members. The 

 latter occurrence would be exceedingly cruel, for it is 

 obvious that a rook or crow, in that case, must eventually 



