The platform is given by itself at (a) in the same picture.  It may be made of very thin wood—­cigar box wood, for instance, or even thick pasteboard.  It consists of three pieces.  The piece which is hinged into the angle of the boards should be about three inches in length; the platform piece ought not to be more than four inches square, and the upright piece only long enough to reach the tip of the spindle when the platform is raised, as shown in our engraving.  The hinge piece should be cut to an edge on that end where the leather is fastened, the opposite end being bevelled off in order that the platform may rest and be tacked or glued firmly upon it.  The diagram (a) will make this all very clear.

When the platform is all made and fastened in its place, the [Page 86] trap may be set.  Draw the hoop back as far as possible, and lower the spindle over its edge, catching it behind the upright stick on the platform.  If the trap is properly constructed, the pressure of the spindle on the platform will suffice to hold it up as seen in our illustration.  The upright stick on the back of the platform should never be more than an inch and a half from the back of the trap.  If need be, a slight notch may be made in the end of the spindle and a small tack driven into the back of the upright stick to correspond to it.  By thus fitting the notch under the head of the tack, it will be sure to hold the platform in the right position.  But it should be carefully tested before setting, to see that it springs easily.

[Illustration]

When thus set sprinkle the bait on the platform, scattering a little also on the bottom of the trap and on the ground directly around it.  The little birds will soon spy the tempting morsels, and alighting on the trap are misled, and the slightest peck or pressure on the platform where the bait is most bounteously spread brings down the wire and net with a snap, and the little creature is secured without harm.

[Illustration:  Method 2.]

Our next illustration shows another method of constructing the platform.  It should be about three or four inches square, [Page 87] and on the middle of one of its edges the upright catch piece should be fastened.  This piece, as will be seen in our engraving, should be cut spreading at the bottom so as to admit of being secured to the platform by two brads, the tip being cut to a point.  The total length of this piece should not be over two and a half inches.  When tacked in place, a third brad should be inserted between the other two and exactly in the centre of the side of the platform.  This latter brad is to act as the pivot, or hinge, and should project about a quarter of an inch, as seen at (a).  On the opposite edge of the platform another larger brad should be driven, having its end filed to a blunt point, as in (b).  If the filing would be too tedious, a plug of hard wood of the required shape would answer