THE GIN. 231 



siderable depth on the opposite side of the track, and nearer 

 to the tall upright wand. To the top of the latter a string 

 was now fastened, the end of which was formed into a 

 large running noose ; while, about half way down, another 

 piece of stick, about six inches long, was tied by its 

 middle. The flexible wand was then bent forcibly down- 

 wards, one end of the little stick overhead was passed 

 under the arch, while it was retained in this position, and 

 at the same time the bow prevented from springing 

 upwards, by the other extremity being placed against a 

 notch at the end of the stick which had been fastened to 

 the peg on the other side of the run, across which it now 

 lay, two or three inches from the ground, and supported 

 the noose. This, in fact, constituted the trigger, which was 

 to be released when struck by the breast of the woodcock. 

 The old man constructed his trap in much less time than 

 I have taken to describe it. His last care was to weave 

 the sedges on either side of the run into a kind of screen, 

 so as to weir the woodcock into the snare, and this he 

 accomplished with much skill and expedition." 



" We have caught the woodcock." 



All's Well, Act iv. Sc. 1. 



Another method of taking this bird was with a steel 

 trap called " a gin :" 



" Now is the woodcock near the gin." 



Twelfth Night, Act ii. Sc. 5. 



