406 



THE GAME PRESERVER S GUIDE. 



The Box-trap or Hutch-trap may be made by any village 

 carpenter, and I shall therefore give full directions for its con- 

 struction. First make an oblong-square box open at each 

 end, three feet six inches long and eight or nine inches square 

 inside. (See fig. 98.) There should be a second bottom 



VIEW OF BOX TRAP SET. 



SECTION OF DITTO. 



raised to the level of the dotted line, and in the centre of 

 this a square hole should be left to receive the plate b, shown 

 in section at fig. 98, and in plan, fig. 99. Next fit a sliding 

 door at each end, running easily up and down in grooves cut 

 for the purpose, and suspend these by cords to two long 

 levers, as shown in the figure. The doors may be solid, or 

 of wood pierced with holes, or of strong wire-work, which is 

 the best, as the animal, whatever it may be, which is caught 

 is always inclined to work away, with a view to escape 

 wherever it sees light, and thus overlooks the crevice at the 

 bottom of the door, which in the solid plan is apt to draw 

 its attention and to lead to the door being lifted. A plate 

 of wood is then cut to fit loosely into the square hole left in 

 the false floor, and to it are fixed two arms projecting through 

 slits in the sides of the box, and having a hook at each end, 

 as shown in fig. 98 at b. Two f'-shaped pieces of wood, 

 a a, fig. 98, and a cord passing from one to the other over 

 the levers complete the trap. It is manifest that any weight 

 on the plate 6, which is only delicately suspended by the two 

 pieces a a will detach it from them j when the cord is libe- 



