42 PRACTICAL TAXIDERMY. 



althougli I tliink the best way of trapping sucli animals is 

 to form an enclosure of brusliwood, &c., in wHcli peg down 

 some live bird, leading two narrow patliways from it from 

 eaclL end and exactly opposite eacb. otber, in eacb of wliicb 

 place an ordinary steel trap, nnbaited, concealed in as skilful 

 a manner as possible. Tbe animal running along one of tliese 

 pathways, to seize his prey, is inevitably trapped. Be sure and 

 have two openings, or this plan will not succeed. Cats may 

 be trapped in this manner. 



St. John, in his " Highland Sports," mentions that if a wild 

 cat, or fox, can be killed, and the body placed in the usual haunts 

 of its kind, well surrounded with traps, curiosity or some such 

 feeling will impel them to visit the " dear departed," and in 

 walking round they often succeed in springing the traps, and 

 remaining as mourners in a fashion they did not intend. 



Hawks may be trap>ped by first capturing their young, and 

 pegging one or more to the ground, and surrounding it or them 

 by concealed traps. This cruel but highly effective way succeeds 

 by reason of the old birds seeing or hearing their young, and 

 attempting to release them. 



If part of a bird or animal killed by a hawk can be found, a 

 good plan is to allow it to remain, surrounding it also with 

 concealed traps, as they usually return to finish their meal, and 

 that sometimes after the lapse of days. 



The " box trap " is used for catching many animals for which 

 the ordinary gin is used ; but the advantage which it possesses 

 over the latter is that it captures all animals alive, which, in the 

 case of a hare or a rabbit accidentally getting in, is of conse- 

 quence, as it may be released unhurt, whereas the ordinary 

 steel trap, if accidentally sprung by them, would have killed or 

 maimed them to a certainty. These box traps can be bought 

 ready-made at many places ; but, for those who wish to make 

 one themselves, I must refer them for plans and description to 

 Col. Hawker, or " Stonehenge." Almost anything does to bait a 

 gin or box trap with — bits of flesh, fish, offal, half-cooked red 

 herrings, &c. — and it is a generally understood thing that if 

 half-putrid flesh or entrails of any animal are rubbed over 

 traps or the thorns or bushes placed as entrances to traps, hares 

 and the like will seldom o-o near. 



