152 THE IMPORTANCE OF BIRD LIFE 



or red-shouldered species. The hunter therefore 

 should be able to discriminate between harmful 

 and beneficial varieties before he undertakes to 

 use a gun. 



Still another, and perhaps more successful, 

 though less thrilling, method of securing birds of 

 prey — and crows as well — ^is by the use of a stuffed 

 owl fixed on a pole. The wings of the dummy 

 work on hinges, allowing them to be moved by the 

 pull of a string. The flapping kindles the ire of 

 the birds of passage, who universally detest an 

 owl, and they dive down to wreak their vengeance 

 upon it. 



The stuffed owl is often used to entice small 

 song-birds upon a tree branch covered with limed 

 sticks. The little songsters hate an owl as keenly 

 as do all larger birds and in daylight will crowd 

 around it, loudly giving voice to their displeasure 

 at its presence in their domain. Twigs smeared 

 with bird-lime are placed near the owl, and when a 

 birds touches one the twig adheres to its feathers. 

 Both bird and twig fall to the ground where they 

 can be picked up by the bird-catcher. 



But song-birds are more often taken in trap- 

 cages in which have been placed live decoy-birds. 

 The cages are constructed of small-mesh wire 

 netting and are composed of three or four com- 

 partments. The compartments on either end are 

 fitted on top with spring doors which snap shut 

 when the specially constructed triggers inside are 



