Trapping on the Farm. 



459 



In setting a trap a careful trapper always springs it sev- 

 eral times. to assure himself that it is going to work prop- 

 erly. Before the trapping season opens, steel traps should 

 be cleaned, the joints oiled, and any necessary little repairs 

 made. 



STRIPED SKUNKS. 



The striped skunks are found in almost every part of the 

 United States. Sleeping by day in burrows or beneath 

 stones, buildings, or trees, they come forth at night to feed 



B364M 



Fig. 7. — Details of Operation of Cat Trap Shown in Figure 6. 



In this illustration the near side of the trap is removed, showing the treadle, 

 T, pivoted so as to pull the prop, P, under the edge of the box when th; box 

 is raised. A cat in reaching for the bait, B, tips up the treadle and springs 

 the trap. As the box falls, rod R, coming in contact with the cat's back, 

 releases an ounce of carbon bisulphid, which quickly and painlessly asphyxiates 

 the animal. 



on insects, small animals, and carrion. Sometimes, but not 

 often, they destroy poultry. Among the signs revealing 

 their presence are numerous shallow pits 1 or 2 inches deep, 

 noticeable in fields and pastures where white grubs are un- 

 earthed by these keen-scented animals; these pits are con- 

 spicuous late in fall, when repeated frosts have laid vegeta- 

 tion low. The holes the animals occupy are clear of spiders' 

 webs, have a slight skunk odor, and frequently have a few 



171047°— 20 2 



