Chapter 3

TRAPS FOR FEATHERED GAME.

THE SIEVE TRAP.--THE BRICK TRAP.--THE COOP TRAP--Improved Method of Setting.--Defects of the old style.--THE BAT FOWLING NET.--Its Use in England.--How the Dark Lantern is Used by Bird Catchers.--THE CLAP NET.--Its Extensive Use in Foreign Countries.--Decoy Birds.--The "Bird Whistle" used in place of decoy.--Wonderful Skill attained in the Use of the Bird Whistle.--Selection of Trapping Ground.--THE BIRD WHISTLE Described.--Its Use and Marvelous Capabilities.--THE WILD GOOSE TRAP.--Its Extensive Use in the Northern Cold Regions for the Capture of the Goose and Ptarmigan.--Tame Goose Used as Decoys.--Gravel as Bait.--THE TRAP CAGE.--A Favorite Trap among Bird Catchers.--Call Birds.--THE SPRING NET TRAP.--Rubber Elastic as Spring Power.--A SIMPLER NET TRAP.--Common Faults in many Bird Traps.--Complicated Construction as Unnecessary Feature.--Requisites of a good Bird Trap.--Hints on Simple Mechanism.--Different Modes of Constructing Hinge.--Hoop Iron Used as Spring Power.--Manner of Tempering Spring.--THE UPRIGHT NET TRAP.--A Second Method of Constructing Platform.--THE BOX OWL TRAP.--Ventilation a Desirable Feature in all Box Traps.--Tin Catch for Securing Cover in Place.--Peculiar Mode of Baiting for Birds.--Modification of Perch.--Baiting for the Owl.--Locality for Setting.--The Owl in Captivity.--Its Food.--Hints on the Care of the Bird.--THE BOX BIRD TRAP.--Cigar Box Used as a Trap.--THE PENDANT BOX TRAP.--Ventilation.--Simple Mechanism.--Care in Construction of Bearings.--THE HAWK TRAP.--A "Yankee" Invention.--Stiff-Pointed Wires Effectually Use in the Capture of the Hawk.--Owl also Captured by the Same Device.--THE WILD DUCK NET.--Its Use in Chesapeake Bay.--Manner of Constructing the Net.--Decoy Ducks.--Bait for the Ducks.--THE HOOK TRAP.--Its cruel Mode of Capture.--Peculiar Bait for Ducks.--THE "FOOL'S CAP" TRAP.--Its Successful Use in the Capture of the Crow.--Shrewdness of the Crow.--Strange antics of a Crow when Captured in the Trap.--Bird Lime the Secret of its Success.--Wonderful Tenacity of the Cap.--Different Modes of Setting.--BIRD LIME Described.--Its astonishing "Sticky" Qualities.--The Bird Lime of the Trade.--Various "Home-Made" Recipes.--Manner of Using Bird Lime.--Limed Twigs.--The Owl Used as a Decoy in connection with Bird Lime.--Bird Lime used in the Capture of the Humming Bird.--A Flower Converted into a Trap.--Masticated Wheat as Bird Lime.--Its Ready Removal from the Feathers.--Delicate Organization of the Humming Bird.--Killed by Fright.--Use of its Plumage.--Snares for the Humming Bird.--Blow Guns Successfully Used for its Capture.--Killed by Concussion.--Disabled by a Stream of Water.

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