40 PRACTICAIi TAXIDERMY. 



larks. A cylinder of wood, inlaid witli pieces of looking-glass, 

 is fixed between two npriglits, and made to revolve by means 

 of a small crank and wlieel, to whicb. a line is attached. The 

 netsman, retiring to some little distance, keeps the cylinder in 

 constant motion by pulling the line, at the same time keeping 

 up a soft whistling noise with his mouth. The larks flutter 

 over the twirler, and seemingly dazzled, descend on the ground 

 between the nets which are then pulled over in the usual manner. 

 Steel traps are of many shapes and sizes, and are best pro- 

 cured ready made from a good firm, though I have known a few 

 country blacksmiths who could turn them out decently. As 

 everyone knows this, the ordinary " gin," or tooth trap, used for 

 capturing rats or other animals and birds, no description is, I 

 think necessary, further than to say that the springs should be 

 highly tempered, and that the teeth should not be too long. 

 These traps can be set in various places with or without baits — 

 in the water, on the ground, up a tree, or on a post ; but post- 

 traps proper, which are chiefly useful, when set unbaited, for 

 catching hawks, are made with an arm and spring at right 

 angles to the plate, so that they may be fastened to the post 

 which supports them. In setting these traps great care and skill 

 are necessary ; and in giving directions how to do this properly, 

 I cannot do better than quote " Stonehenge," who says : 



First lay the trap on the ground, then mark the outline of it, allowing 

 half an inch clear all round ; cut away the turf to this pattern, and in 

 the centre dig a hole deep enough to receive a strong peg and the chain 

 which fastens the trap to it, which will thus be entirely concealed ; drive 

 in the peg, arrange the chain neatly upon this and in the channel for the 

 spring, and then set the trap in its place, temporarily propping up the 

 plate by a piece of twig, which can finally be withdrawn by a string ; 

 take care so to cut away the turf that the jaws are only just below the 

 level of the ground. Having done this, cut a very thin slice of the turf 

 which was removed to make way for the trap, leaving little more than 

 the grass itself with a ragged edge, and lay this gently on the plate, and 

 withdraw the prop. Then cover the spring in the same way ; and, 

 lastly, put some more shreds of grass or leaves over the jaws themselves, 

 but in such a way that the former will not be caught between the teeth 

 when the trap is sprung. When the keeper can do all this so neatly that 

 the trap cannot be discovered by the eye at two or three yards distance, 



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