Winged Vermin Taking Magpies. 487 



in the manipulation of a chisel and hammer, the top of 

 the wood may be suitably hollowed out to receive the 

 trap, thus greatly increasing the chance of making one 

 or several captures. The gatepost itself may also be 

 treated in like manner if of wood ; while, should it be 

 a stone one, a trap may be plainly placed upon it, and 

 fixed by string, wire, or thin chain in order to prevent 

 its being removed or fluttered away with by any bird 

 caught. 



One way of taking magpies in particular, and winged 

 vermin in general, requires some preparation and trouble, 

 and we had therefore better describe it, as it is very 

 suitable for large coverts. 



Some few posts must be obtained, numbered according 

 to the quantity required, about loft, in length, and suffi- 

 ciently large in diameter at one end to take one of the 

 small-sized hawk traps (Fig. 39). They must be hollowed 

 out to just receive one of these gins on the top, and be 

 let into the ground about twenty yards out from the edge 

 of the wood, plantation, or whatever it may be, until but 

 8ft. are exposed. The posts should be from 100 to 200 

 yards apart, and be fixed in as suitable a position as can 

 be determined upon. The gins are set in the part hollowed, 

 left uncovered, unbaited, and the chain of each trap fastened 

 down the side of the post by a strong staple over the 

 ring. Such decoys as these often prove well worth the 

 trouble and small expense, their erection causing many 

 vermin birds more particularly hawks to be caught, 

 although magpies and jays are the most common. It is 

 necessary to remark that " tickle" is not required here, 



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