504 



Simple Birdtrap. 



Art. II. A Description of a very simple Kind of Trap for catching 

 Birds. By Robert Alexander, Under Gardener at Kiplin, near 

 Catterick, Yorkshire. 



Fig. 97. represents a trap which is used here, and in the 

 neighbourhood, for the purpose of catching blackbirds and 



97 



thrushes. In form, it resembles a pyramid ; and the dimensions 

 of the one used here are, IS in. square at the base, and 10 in. 

 high in the centre of the trap from the ground to the top. It is 

 made of straight hazel rods, about three quarters of an inch in 

 diameter. To begin, two rods are laid upon the ground in a 

 parallel direction ; and then two more, of exactly the same length, 

 are laid upon them, so that the ends overlap each other about 

 an inch, as shown in Jig. 98. at 1. Two rods are then laid 



98 



upon those, parallel to one another, and then two on the other 

 sides ; continuing in the same manner to the top, but diminishing 

 an inch each time in the length of the rods, as in Jig. 98. at 2. 

 They are fastened down by a cord {a a vcxjig. 97.)} which is tied 

 to the four corners of the bottom square, and passes outside 

 between the ends of the rods to the top, where it is made tight. 

 Z> is a bow, which is placed between the two bottom rods of the 

 trap ; c is the spring ; and t? is a small forked stick, which sup- 

 ports the trap. It is baited with a cherry, placed within the 

 bow, which stands an inch from the ground. The bird, in 

 reaching the cherry, displaces the bow ; the spring flies up, and 

 the bird remains a prisoner. It can be taken out by moving 

 one of the rods. 

 Kiplin^ July, 1838. 



