Winged Vermin Taking Crows and Rooks. 445 



die of starvation, if it do not bleed to death. On these 

 facts being considered it seems most advisable, if gins must 

 be used, that the usual type be employed. 



The best traps to obtain for this purpose are 3in. Dorset 

 vermin gins ; they are about two-thirds the size of the 

 ordinary rabbit gin, made strongly, but not intended to 

 sustain so much rough usage as the others. The best we 

 know of are those manufactured by Lane, both as far as 

 concerns material and workmanship. These gins are about 

 loin, long and 3in. wide over the jaws, the bow-spring being 

 only i^in. high and lin. wide. From the measurements 

 it will be noticed that the trap is easy to cover, and at the 

 same time sufficiently large to be thoroughly efficacious. 

 The spring is well tempered, quick, but not too much so, 

 for the jaws, which, being well shaped, carefully made, and 

 neatly fitted, produce less effect than would ill-fitted ones, 

 there being sufficient space between the teeth. The plate 

 and catch work uncommonly well, and can be set so that 

 the slightest pressure will effectually discharge the gin. The 

 chains in these, as in all Lane's traps, are of the best 

 manufacture, and well put on. This firm also makes a 

 smaller one at a cheaper price, which may be used with 

 almost equal effect, the difference between the two being 

 rather in finish than construction. Shave, of Birmingham, 

 supplies also a very excellent I3in. trap, at a moderate 

 price, there being but little to choose between the two. We 

 have also seen some highly-finished well-made vermin traps, 

 bearing the name of " F. Lane, Plymouth/' being nothing 

 more nor less than small sizes of his really first-rate rabbit 

 gins, some of which we have had in use for nearly five 



