In the preparation of the work no pains have been spared to insure clearness in general directions, and every point which would be likely to puzzle the reader has been specially covered by separate illustration.  In this particular it stands unique in the list of boys’ books.  Every difficulty has been anticipated, and in every instance the illustrations will be found thoroughly comprehensive and complete.  That the care and thoroughness which has been displayed throughout the work, and to which its pages will bear witness, may meet with the appreciation and enthusiastic approval of every boy-reader throughout the land, is the most earnest hope of

The author.

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[Page iii] [Illustration:  Contents]

BOOK I.

Traps for large game.

Introduction.—­The dead fall.—­Honey as Bait for Bears.—­The gun trap.—­Peculiar Habits of the Puma.—­“Baiting” for the Puma.—­Caution required in Setting the Gun Trap.—­Several Guns used.—­Different Modes of Setting.—­Various animals to which the Gun Trap is adapted.—­The bow trap.—­Vane and Barb for Arrows.—­Best Wood for Bow.—­A Second Example of Bow Trap.—­Arrows Barbed and Poisoned.—­The down fall; or Hippopotamus Trap.—­The terrible Harpoon used by the African Trapper.—­Different Modes of Setting the Down Fall.—­Modification of the Down Fall for small animals.—­The bear trap.—­Various Methods of Setting.—­Honey as Bait for Bear.—­Bait for Puma.—­The pitfall.—­Use of the Trap in Asia as a means of defence against the Tiger.—­Disposition of the Bait.—­Wonderful agility of the Puma.—­Niceties required in the construction of the Pitfall.—­The log coop trap.—­Various animals for which it is adapted.—­Different Modes of Setting.—­The Corrall or Hopo of Africa.—­Its Construction and Appalling Effects.—­The net trap.—­Its Use in the Capture of the Lion and the Tiger.—­American animals to which it may be adapted.—­Two Methods of Setting.—­Bird lime.—­Its Use for the Capture of the Lion and Tiger.

[Page iv] book II.

Snares or noose traps.

General Remarks.—­Requisite Materials for Snaring.—­The quail snare.—­“Sucker Wire” Nooses.—­Six Quail caught at a time.—­Hoop nooses.—­Horse hair nooses.—­Hedge nooses.—­Peculiarities of the Grouse.—­Selection of Ground.—­The triangle tree snare.—­A Hawk captured by the device.—­The Wire Noose, as arranged for the capture of the Woodchuck, Muskrat, and House Rat.—­The twitch-up.—­Selection of Ground for Setting.—­Various Modes of