DECOYING AND TRAPPING ANIMALS. 25 



upriglit, B tlie slanting stick, and c bait or bottom stick. To 

 set it, take tbe upriglit in the left band, cbisel point up, pick 

 up B witb tbe rigbt band, place it witb its notcb fitting on tbe 

 top of A, and keeping tbe slanting stick pressed down firmly, 

 you bold tbe two in proper position. Tbis bas relieved tbe left 

 band entirely, wbicb now is used to pick up c ; place tbe side 

 notcb of tbis on tbe uprigbt A, slide it up until its end nick is 

 caugbt by tbe point of B ; a sufficient leverage, as it were, 

 being attained on tbis, we can bold tbe wbole of tbe trap now 

 witb tbe rigbt band. By grasping B witb tbe fingers of tbe 

 band in opposition to tbe palm, wbile tbe tbumb presses it down 

 on tbe top, tbe left band, being at liberty, is used to drag tbe 

 stone and to raise one end to fall on tbe top of B ; tbe weigbt of 

 tbe stone now sets tbe tbree parts in opposition to eacb otber. 

 An animal toucbing tbe bait in tbe sligbtest manner is sufficient 

 to destroy tbe nice balance of tbe wbole affair, and down it 

 comes witb a run. Tbe sizes given — from a trap I bave just 

 set — are, of course, for small animals only, but it may be enlarged 

 or decreased to any extent, at tbe pleasure of tbe operator. 



As "Stonebenge" and "Higb' Elms" bave introduced some 

 improvements, I may as well quote tbe former : 



The Figure of 4 ^^^P is composed of a large square piece of stone or 

 slate propped up in a peculiar manner with three pieces of wood, which 

 are arranged in the shape of a 4- 



In examining this figure it will be seen to consist of a perpendicular 

 limb or upright, of a horizontal one or stretcher, and of a short planting 

 stick, as the third is called. The upright is usually cut about half an 

 inch wide, shaved to a thin edge at top, but " High Elms " recommends 

 it to have a forked foot to keep it from twisting, and a notch in it to 

 prevent the stretcher slipping down. The slanting stick has a notch 

 cut in it half an inch from its upper end to receive the top of the upright, 

 while its lower end is shaved off to fit in a notch in the upper surface 

 of the front of the stretcher. Lastly, the stretcher has this notch in 

 front, and another notch cut in its side by which it is caught by the 

 upright and held in its place. A bait being tied to the external end of 

 the stretcher, and a stone placed so that it will lie flat on the ground, 

 the whole is ready for setting, which is effected as follows : Raise the 

 stone, and support it by the notched end of the slanting stick held 

 in the left hand, the notch itself looking downwards, then place the 

 upright with one end on the ground and tho other in this notch, and 



