188 ARTS AND CRAFTS OF GUIANA INDIANS [BTH. ANN. 38 
been firmly tied to the four corners of the original lowest and largest 
frame. The cover is raised on one side (B), the center of which rests 
upon a vertical pencil, formed of an upper and lower mortise deli- 
cately balanced. From the latter to the opposite side of the cover is 
stretched a string, the slightest disturbance of which will break the 
balance of the pencil, and so cause the trap to fall; a very common 
method of catching pigeons (WER, tv). 
179. The Moruca River Warrau youngsters will use the following 
snare trap for catching small birds during the nesting season (pl. 41, 
fig. 3 C): It consists of a light cane ring (a), about 6 or 7 inches 
in diameter, to which are attached two arched pieces (6, c), crossed at 
right angles. A large number of slip nooses (n), all formed of 
kuraua twine, are next tied around the limbs of the arches, so as to 
control the entire intermediate areas. [For clearness sake only 
one space is shown covered with nooses in the diagram.| The ends 
of the nooses are attached by clove hitch. The frame is tied to a 
branch over the nest with but little chance of escape for the bird 
when flying home (WER, tv). 
180. Bird calls are imitated to perfection by Indians. Not infre- 
quently, writes Bodham-Whetham, we obtained a powis or dorakuara 
by such means. At night the Indians would note the position of the 
roosting bird by its notes, and then in the early morn proceed in its 
direction, attract it by their imitative cries, and shoot it (BW, 257). 
In some of those cases where the bird call does not lend itself to imi- 
tation the bird itself may be caught and assist the Indian in securing 
others. The captive creature mimics a free one. Decoys are thus 
made use of, as in the case of grass birds, ete. Among the Arekuna 
Indians in the far hinterland, certain small parrots (Pionus pileatus 
Gm.) used to be easily caught by specimens of the same bird confined 
in a basket (App, 1, 181). 
1S1. It would seem that quail on the Orinoco were hunted with 
dogs, almost “ pointers,” as judged from the following description: 
With his little mongrel ahead of him the Indian, shouldering his 
basket, carries a rod with a noose at its extremity. The dog pur- 
sues his course and the birds take to flight, which is slow and short. 
The little cur, barking away, follows them, and they in their turn 
getting afraid don’t remain on the ground but make for the first 
little tree or bush that happens to be near. Still barking away, the 
dog pursues them with greater eagerness, while the quail, with their 
attention so keenly fixed on him, do not appear to realize the presence 
of the huntsman, but allow themselves to be snared with the slip 
knot. Nor does the dog become silent until the last bird is caught 
(G, 1, 260). Wapishana of the present day similarly employ the 
slip knot and rod (JO). 
