18 PRACTICAL TAXIDERMY. 



of a nest, and if yon know of a very rare nest of eggs, do 

 n.ot take tlieni all in your acquisitive greed. If you see a rare 

 bird, on common land, you may as well secure Mm as let 

 "Jack Smith" make Mm up in a sparrow pie; but if the 

 bird is on preserved land, or in a retired spot where no one 

 is likely to harry it, do think a minute before pulling trigger, 

 and ask yourself three questions : 1. Will this bird be likely 

 to stay if unmolested ? 2. Is it likely to have a mate ? 3. Will 

 it nest here ? If you can answer any of these questions in 

 the affirmative, why, "don't shoot, colonel;" for think of the 

 aid to science, and your own satisfaction, if you can discover 

 anytMng new in its habits, or verify any doubtful point. Many 

 rare birds would nest here if undisturbed, and come again 

 with additions. The Hoopoe, or golden oriole, for instance, 

 and many other rare birds, would nest, and, indeed, do nest 

 here when allowed. 



An interesting account of the appearance of the great bustard 

 in Norfolk, and the pains taken through the kindness of Lord 

 Lilford to provide it with a mate, appeared in the Field of 

 April 8, 1876. But alas ! everyone is not so considerate, and 

 we have but a select few of such self-sacrificing people. 



I presume no notice is required how to set the first trap 

 on our list — I mean our boyhood's old favourite, the brick 

 trap, or the sieve and string, both very well in their way 

 in hard weather; but a notice may be required as to the 

 uses to which the next simplest trap, or springe (the horse- 

 hair noose), may be applied. For the very few people who 

 do not know how to set it, I will, in the manner of Col. Hawker, 

 who did everytMng at the time which he wished to explain 

 in writing, proceed to make one. Here, then, I have a black 

 horsehair about two feet long ; I double it, holding it between 



o 



Fig. 1.— Loop in Wire. 



the right-hand finger and thumb, leaving a little loose loop 

 of about half an inch long; from this point I proceed by 

 an overhand motion of the thumb to twist it up; on reaching 



