Practical Game-Preserving. 334 



To set the trap, first attach the bait to the stretcher A 

 by means of a piece of wire, allowing it just to hang on 

 the lower side. It is not advisable to employ any thick, 

 hard bait that will prevent the cover weight from falling 

 flat upon the ground, otherwise the vermin may be unhurt 

 and squeeze itself out at the side. Next place a piece of 

 slate, or a flat level stone, about 2in. or 3in. wide it 

 need not be shaped in a regular manner, and for prefer- 

 ence otherwise upon the ground, just about on the line 

 where the outside edge of the trap will rest when fallen. 

 Upon this, and with the side shown in the illustration to the 

 front, place C, then put the notch of B on the point of 

 C, the small end outside the notch in the slanting-stick 

 alone supporting the stone or slate which may form the 

 cover. Take up the stretcher A, and fit the point of the 

 slanting-stick B into one of the notches of the stretcher, 

 whichever may seem more suitable ; place it- transversely 

 to the upright, fit the slanting notch to the notch c, in 

 C, and having found, by gently releasing the hold, that all 

 the pieces catch together, the figure of four is formed 

 and the trap remains set, as shown at Fig. 38. If the 

 directions given regarding the trap be carefully followed, 

 the setting will be accomplished at the first endeavour. 



Naturally the ground must be level, and it must further 

 be observed that it is desirable that the surface at the open 

 end should slant down a little, otherwise the stretcher may 

 be broken by the weight of the falling cover. No more 

 complete and instantaneous collapse than that of the 

 " four " when the bait is touched can be devised, and 

 only exceptional cases of the parts jamming occur in such 

 instances, frost or wet is invariably the cause. This trap 

 is of course one of the cheapest that can possibly 

 be made, and as large a quantity as may seem necessary 

 can be provided, the cost being really nominal, and the 



