Practical Game-Preserving. 388 



Long-eared, Brown, and other owls are invariably 

 regarded by gamekeepers as vermin ; but although occa- 

 sionally they may err, their general good behaviour and 

 utility should suffice to preserve them from destruction. 



The trapping of hawks is a considerably more difficult 

 matter than the capture of any of the various birds hitherto 

 discussed, and such being the case, it is necessary carefully 

 to note the details the observance of which leads to success. 

 The round hawk-traps (Fig. 59) are those most suitable, 

 as these birds require a stronger and heavier one than do 



Fig. 59. Humane Hawk-Trap with Rubber-Covered Jaws. 



other vermin. The signs by which one can tell where to 

 trap for hawks are generally pretty apparent in the shape 

 of mauled birds, or the remains of such, which will be 

 mostly met with on the outside of, or along any paths 

 through, a wood or plantation ; should the bird discovered 

 appear to be but partly eaten, it may with advantage be 

 employed as a bait to one or two light vermin gins neatly 

 set around it. It will probably be observed that the 

 sparrowhawk hunts the same ground every day ; and, that 

 being the case, considerable advantage is gained, as various 

 baits may be placed and tilled in positions where their 

 observance by the bird is almost certain. 



