24 



PEACTICAL TAXIDEEMY 



leopards, tigers, elephants, &c., consult almost any book on 

 African or Indian field sports. 



Of poisons or intoxicants for capturing birds or animals, 1 do 

 not intend to treat, as tbey are better left to gamekeepers and 

 poachers. 



Dead-falls, sncli as the " Figure of 4 trap," are easy to make, 

 and useful for killing small animals. The materials required 

 are simply three ordinary p)ieces of wood, a small piece of string, 

 or, better still, wire, and a large, heavy, flat paving stone, or 

 slate. Having procured three pieces of wood of half an inch 

 square by one foot long, we call one the " upright," which is 

 simply brought to a point at one end, somewhat like a chisel. 

 The second is the " slanting stick," which should be cut to about 



Fig. 4. — "Figure of 4-" Trap. 



8in. long, having a nick in it about half an inch from one end, 

 about half way through its depth; the other end is brought 

 to a chisel point on its upper surface ; the third, which is the 

 " foot" or " bait stick," has a square notch, the thickness of the 

 upright, cut in it, about three inches from one end ; the inner 

 end of this notch is relieved a little, so as not to bind on the 

 upright too much. Within half an inch of the other end 

 another notch is cut, but at right angles to the last, that is 

 to say, this last notch is cut on the top, while the other is 

 cut at the side; the outer or top notch also slopes inward. 

 At the inner or side notch end drill a little hole, through which 

 place a piece of pointed wire to receive the bait. The appearance 

 of the three sticks when set is best explained by Fig 4 ; A is the 



