112 
A/i Effective Moiise-I rap. 
it in a short evening-, and is as effective as it U simple. It 
iicvc'- fails to catch mice, no matter how long it has been in 
use, or what amount of provender is scattered on the floor in 
the vicinity of the trap. 
As to the making of the trap, mine is made out of a 
Hudson's Soap-lx)x roughly 6x8x11 ins. Atx>ut one-third 
has been cut of^ to make, it a convenient size, and one end 
fitted with a small sliding-door, made of rather coarse per- 
forated zinc. This is to let the mouse out, when caught, into 
a salubrious pail 
Qfyc^ of cold water. On 
the inner t-ides of 
the box are fast- 
ened pieces of f 
in . square strips 
of wood, forming 
a ledge . This 
must start from 
near the top of 
the front end to 
a point about 2^ 
ins. below and 
parallel to the top 
of the box at the 
. I ^ _ biack. The object 
of this is to allow the lid to fall easily, and I am told is an 
essential part of the trap. The ledge fits round the four sides 
of the inner walls of the box. A frame is next made to fit 
loosely, yet fairly accurately, inside the box, and of course, 
rests on the sloping ledge; this frame must be covered with 
coarse perforated zinc. Any hook or rough sort of hinge 
serves to keep the lid in place, and yet allows free movement 
at the back part. In mine the maker has merely pushed a 
piece of iron wire through the end of the box and just bent 
it over the frame of the lid. It looks most amateurish and 
insecure, but is efficacious. No matter how the hinging mec- 
hanism is made, it must be so arranged that the lid falls 
easily and accurately on to the wooden ledge of its own weight. 
Right in the middle of the ffoor of the box is a wood- 
en post with a knife-edge running sideways — about lin. in 
section and 3ins. in height. 
FRONT 
