Winged Vermin Baits for Magpies and Jays. 481 



any risk to the fingers. It will be noticed that this gin 

 can be held open by one hand only. Some are made with 

 plain jaws, which we like when not too close; and some 

 with toothed jaws, which we prefer in all cases ; while 

 some can be obtained with an iron sprig instead of the 

 plate whether an advantage or otherwise, we cannot say, 

 never having tried it, but as far as we can judge it may 

 be recommended under certain circumstances. H. Lane 

 makes excellent " Hawk Traps," and, as far as we know, 

 the best ; although some we had from Shave, of Birmingham, 

 ran the former rather close. Some persons almost rave 

 about light iron traps ; we do not, and, except the descrip- 

 tions noted above, prefer a good solid one that will keep 

 its shape, and retain its position when set a desideratum 

 not by any means always present in lightly made traps. 



Having discussed the various traps suitable for the capture 

 of magpies and jays, we devote some attention to the 

 most eligible baits. A dead rabbit is undoubtedly tempting^ 

 especially if recently killed. The magpie the jay nearly 

 as much has an insatiable tooth for a rabbit, and this at 

 any time and in every season, be food scarce or plentiful. 

 Eggs are another first-rate bait for both birds ; they seem 

 to have such attraction for the jay, that at the sight of 

 one or two hen's eggs, in spite of the suspicious character 

 of their situation, and the eminent unlikelihood of any 

 fowl having deposited them there, it will throw aside its 

 usual shrewdness for a disastrous acquaintance with the 

 game preserver's wiles. We have known jays in the middle 

 of winter, with snow on the ground, find discomfiture and 

 death in four or five eggshells placed in a conspicuously 



