THE GIN. 
23I 
siderable depth on the opposite side of the track, and nearer 
to the tall upright wand. To the top of the latter a string 
was now fastened, the end of which was formed into a 
large running noose ; while, about half way down, another 
piece of stick, about six inches long, was tied by its 
middle. The flexible wand was then bent forcibly down¬ 
wards, one end of the little stick overhead was passed 
under the arch, while it was retained in this position, and 
at the same time the bow prevented from springing 
upwards, by the other extremity being placed against a 
notch at the end of the stick which had been fastened to 
the peg on the other side of the run, across which it now 
lay, two or three inches from the ground, and supported 
the noose. This, in fact, constituted the trigger, which was 
to be released when struck by the breast of the woodcock. 
The old man constructed his trap in much less time than 
I have taken to describe it. His last care was to weave 
the sedges on either side of the run into a kind of screen, 
so as to weir the woodcock into the snare, and this he 
accomplished with much skill and expedition.” 
“ We have caught the woodcock.” 
All's Well, Act iv. Sc. 1. 
Another method of taking this bird was with a steel 
trap called “ a gin :” 
“Now is the woodcock near the gin.” 
Twelfth Night, Act ii. Sc. 5. 
