The Cat Tribe. 73 



powerful and dangerous an animal, and traps of all 

 kinds are constructed for his capture. 



Some of these are most ingenious. A very common 

 method of destruction is the spring bow, which is set 

 as follows : 



Two stout posts are planted in the ground by the side 

 of the tiger's path, and to these the bow is firmly fastened, 

 the string being parallel with the path. The bow is 

 then stretched, and kept in that position by means 

 of a stick, which prevents the string from approaching 

 the wood. At the end of the stick is placed a long 

 wedge, to which is fastened a cord, which crosses the 

 path of the animal. The arrow, generally poisoned, 

 is then laid in its place. 



Naturally, as soon as the tiger presses the cord with 

 his breast, the wedge falls, the stick is drawn away, 

 and the arrow discharged into his body, where the 

 poison very shortly proves fatal. 



Should a tiger have paid a visit to a farmyard, and 

 carried off a horse or bullock, his track is followed up 

 until the carcase of the slaughtered animal is dis 

 covered. Knowing that the tiger will shortly return 

 for a second meal, the farmer cuts a few gashes in the 

 flesh and introduces a quantity of arsenic. Before 

 very long, the tiger makes his appearance, and 

 swallows great lumps of the poisoned food, which in 

 a short time puts an end to his existence. 



Farmers in this country are familiar with a method 

 of catching rooks, when they attack the newly-planted 

 grain, by twisting up a number of paper cones, placing 

 a grain or two of corn at the bottom, and smearing 

 the interior with bird-lime. These are placed in the 

 furrows, with the pointed end downwards. The rook 

 comes flapping along, sees the corn at the bottom of 

 the cone, and immediately attempts to secure it. His 

 head once in, however, he is unable to release it, the 



