AROVKD TffE FARM. 261 



if he misses it, will go searching around for it. A knowledge of this fact led 

 to the invention some years since of the trap we now illnstrate. It is un- 

 patented and our readers our free to make and use it. 



The trap should be three feet long, one foot wide, and one foot high, out- 

 side measurement, and may be made of ordinary &ced pine boards. 



N is the only ^•oi^i part of the ^>/>, to which is hinged the lids L and D, 

 and also in wLich the standard S is mortised. The Ud L is held up by the 

 rod A, in which are one or more notches to elevate it the desired height, 

 catching or hooking over the pin B, and projecting a few inches beyond. 

 Under A, and hinged into the standard by the pin P, is the lever T, also pro- 

 jecting an inch or more beyond. C is a treadle board, hinged at Y to the 

 bottom of the trap, and connecting by the wire W to the lever T, elevating it 

 about two inches when set H is the ^xiit box, separated from the main trap 

 by a wire screen, XX. is a window, of which there should be one on each 

 side about three or four inches square, also covered with wire or wire cloth, 

 and D is the hd of the bait bos, fastened down by the pin E. 



If you have a chicken or fowl that has been killed by the mink a night or 

 two preceding put that into the bait box and close the lid, placing the trap aa 

 near the spot where the dead fowl was found aa you can. If a Uve fowl is 

 put in, no harm can be done to it, the screen effectually protecting it. The 

 mink enters the trap, and ^^^ 



as soon as his weight gets ^^Bfc ^^ ^^ 



well up on the treadle ^^^^^^^'^ ' ^"^^^^^Bp 

 it pulls down the lever T, ^^^L__^^^ "" -^ ^^BBT 

 the projecting end of ^^H^^^^^^^^^^^ ''^^Pj ~ 



which dislodges the rod A, ^^|^^fc==^'^^ ^^^^.v_ j_^ 



and drops the hd L. It is jH '^ i I 



best to have a xceight upon n| — — ^^ 2 ^g— L 



L, or else a catch to hold it V ..,...=«--"=='='-^\ | ^ ^^ X 



down when sprung, as we '*^""""'"' '* v 



have known au old mink to A laxK tk-vp. 



pry up the hd and get out. 



We have never known this trap to rixias when set immediately sncceeding 



the depredations of one of those varmiitls. 



Next to the mink, the skunk is the most destmotiTc to poultry. Hie 

 best way to trap him is with eggs, of which they are passionately fond. 

 They are not particular about the qnalUy, as they seem to favor a rotten one, 

 or one with a dead chicken in it. Tie the egg in a piece of netting, and fasten 

 it to the treadle of a steel trap, or to a common box trap. Find their burrow, 

 and set your trap near the mouth. It is nearly useless to set a trap where a 

 theft has been committed. The animal may not go back there for months. 

 He might possibly be caught in a night or two. But the chances are against it. 



Crows and hawks are to be classed among the enemies of poultry. The 

 former prey only on young chickens and eggs. Catch one and hang it in 

 your poultry yard; no other crow will come near it. The quickest and surest 

 trap for crows \b to place a steel trap in the shallow water of a pond, so that 

 the jaws when open, are just under water. On the treadle place a small tnfl 

 of grass or moss, making a miniature island. Then cut a small stick with 

 three branches, forking in such a maimer as to support an egg on them; 

 stick this about six or eight inches from the trap; lay a httle moss, grass, or 

 leaves ov«r it, and place the egg on the forks, so it will appear as if floating 

 on the water; cover the remainder of the trap Ughtly with grass, so as to 

 hide it from sight, for yLc. Crow ia ver^- obaervant To obtain the egg the 



