This bird is a very interesting and beautiful creature, and if our young reader could only catch one, and find rats and mice enough to keep it well fed, he would not only greatly diminish the number of rats in his neighborhood, but he would realize a great deal of enjoyment in watching and studying the habits of the bird.

Should it be difficult to supply the above mentioned food, raw meat will answer equally well.  The bird should either be kept in a cage or inclosure and in the latter case, its wings will require to be clipped.

THE BOX BIRD TRAP.

Here we have another invention somewhat resembling the foregoing.  Our engraving represents the arrangement of the parts as the trap appears when set.

[Illustration]

The box may be of almost any shape.  A large sized cigar box has been used with excellent success, and for small birds is just the thing.  The cover of the box in any case should work on a hinge of some sort.  The trap is easily made.  The first thing to be done is to cut an upright slot, about two inches in length, through the centre of the backboard, commencing at the upper edge.  To the inside centre edge of the cover a small square strap, about four inches in length, should then be secured.  It should be so adjusted as that one-half shall project toward the inside of the box, as seen in the illustration, and at the same time pass easily through [Page 91] the slot beneath where the cover is closed.  The lid should now be supplied with elastics as described in the foregoing.  Next in order comes the bait stick.  Its shape is clearly shown in our illustration, and it may be either cut in one piece or consist of two parts joined together at the angle.  To the long arm the bait should be attached and the upright portion should be just long enough to suspend the cover in a position on a line with the top of the box.  The trap may now be set, as seen in our illustration, and should be supplied with the necessary tin catch, described in the foregoing.

THE PENDENT BOX TRAP.

This invention is original with the author of this work, and when properly made and set will prove an excellent device for the capture of small birds.

The general appearance of the trap, as set, is clearly shown in our illustration.  A thin wooden box is the first requisite, it should be about a foot square and six inches in depth, and supplied with a close fitting cover, working on hinges.  The sides should then be perforated with a few auger holes for purposes of ventilation.

Two elastics are next in order, and they should be attached to the cover and box, one on each side, as shown at (a.) They should be drawn to a strong tension, so as to hold the cover firmly against the box.

The mechanism of the trap centres in the bait stick which differs in construction from any other described in this book.