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,item_/vudl3#bifbcg   ,transcriber's    
note3        ,text enclosed by          
underscores is in italics 7italics74    
,text enclosed by equal signs is in bold
 face 7bold74        ,figure numbers are
 not consecutive1 with some numbers     
missing and       other numbers         
duplicated4        ,an additional       
transcriber's note is at the end4       
,,how ,,to ,,make ,,and ,,set ,,traps   
,including ,hints on ,how to ,trap      
,moles1 ,weasels1 ,otter1 ,rats1        
,squirrels and ,birds4  ,also ,how to   

,cure ,skins4  ,copiously ,illustrated4 
by  ,j4 ,,harrington ,,keene4           
,new ,york3 ,frank ,tousey1 ,publisher1 
#bd ,union ,square4  ,entered according 
to ,act of ,congress1 in the year #aijb1
 by ,frank ,tousey1 in the ,office of   
the ,librarian of ,congress at          
,washington1 ,d4 ,c4   ,,how ,,to ,,make
 ,,and ,,set ,,traps4     ,i4 ,,the     
,,mole4   ,dirt has been defined as     
8matter in the wrong place40 ,it is very
 useful1 and1 indeed1 indispensable1 as 
earth in a garden1 but decidedly        
unbecoming and dirty when on your face  
or clothes4 ,in a similar way1 most of  
the creatures termed 8vermin0 are in    
themselves very graceful and beautiful  
specimens of the ,creator's handiwork1  
but when they encroach on man's paths of
 progress and improvement they become   
8vermin10 and though all life should be 
looked upon as a fearful and wonderful  
thing1 not to be lightly taken from its 
possessor1 they are then justifiably    
slain4  ,the little gentleman in black  

velvet--the mole--is a lovely-coated    
little fellow1 possessing many virtues1 
such as courage1 industry1 and parental 
affection1 but when he once gets into   
your father's garden1 which has probably
 cost money and exceeding care to render
 it neat and productive1 our little     
friend is transformed into one of the   
most troublesome of 8vermin10 and must  
be relentlessly sacrificed by the       
trapper4 ,if this is not done1 ,master  
,mole will himself sacrifice the crops  
in his efforts to get at the worms1     
which1 as the late ,charles ,darwin so  
conclusively showed1 are one of the     
great regenerating forces of the land's 
fertility4  ,look at rats again4 ,see   
how lithe and agile they are1 how fond  
of their young1 and provident in storing
 food for future consumption2 yet they  
are without a redeeming excellency if1  
like dirt1 they are in the wrong        
place--as they are1 by the way1 pretty  
certain to be4  ,of the squirrel ,mr4   
,ruskin1 in his marvelously eloquent    

way1 has said3 8,of all quadrupeds 444  
there is none so beautiful or so happy  
as the squirrel4 ,innocent in all his   
ways1 harmless in his food1 playful as a
 kitten1 but without cruelty1 and       
surpassing the dexterity of the monkey1 
with the grace of a bird1 the little    
dark-eyed miracle of the forest goes    
from branch to branch more like a       
sunbeam than a living thing4 ,the       
chamois is slow to it1 and the panther  
clumsy4 ,it haunts you1 listens for you1
 hides from you1 looks for you1 loves   
you1 as if it were a plaything invented 
by the angel that walks by your         
children40  ,alas6 there is a reverse   
side to this beautiful word-picture of  
the great art critic4 ,the gamekeeper   
will tell you that mischievous ,master  
8,squiggy0 is very fond of birds'       
eggs--many a tiny wren1 and many a      
sweet-voiced blackbird has discovered   
this also--and that he above all will   
often suck the dove-hued eggs of the    
pheasant4 ,much1 therefore1 as ,i admire

 this little creature when he is in his 
native firtree1 ,i shall tell you how to
 catch him alive1 so that he may be kept
 away from doing harm4  ,again1 the     
brilliant kingfisher1 flashing by you   
like a beam of azure light1 is in his   
right place near the stickleback pond1  
but on my trout river he is 8vermin40   
,the same exposition of the properties  
of vermin might be followed out in      
reference to all the creatures ,i intend
 to hereafter teach you how to capture  
or destroy4  ,so much by way of         
introduction1 and now suppose1 as ,i    
have above referred to 8the little      
gentleman in the velvet suit10 we begin 
with him4 ,do not be alarmed at the few 
items of natural history ,i am going to 
give you in reference to each 8varmint40
 ,it is better for you to know about the
 funny little ways of the lower creation
 now than wait till you are men1 and    
perhaps unable to devote much time to   
the acquisition of such knowledge4      
,besides1 there is nothing mean or      

paltry in such studies4 ,why1 the great 
,german ,heber and our hardly less great
 ,sir ,john ,lubbock have devoted their 
lives to ants and such small fry till   
marvels of intelligence in these insects
 have been unfolded to their wondering  
vision4 ,even the wise and mighty ,king 
,solomon did not forget them4 ,do not   
despise small things because they are   
small1 therefore1 for are we not        
ourselves as motes and specks of dust in
 the sunbeam in the immensity of ,god8  
,i most1 however1 return to the mole1 or
 you may accuse me of preaching a sermon
 when you were expecting to hear how to 
catch vermin4  ,well1 the scientific    
name of the mole is ,talpa ,europa1 and 
its distribution is all over ,europe4   
,france1 ,italy1 ,spain1 ,portugal1     
,germany1 ,holland1 ,sweden1 and        
,denmark alike produce it as well as our
 own land4 ,the main thing--or one of   
them--that arrests the attention on     
first seeing the mole is the very       
hand-like fore paws4 ,these are attached

 to the body by a short forearm1 and    
suggest immense strength--which1 as a   
matter of fact1 they possess4 ,they are 
used for scooping the earth from before 
and throwing it on one side2 and for    
this purpose the claws are long and     
trenchant4 ,the hind feet1 which are    
comparatively small1 serve the purpose  
of throwing out the earth behind with   
incredible quickness4 ,the head also1   
being sharp-pointed1 offers no          
opposition to this boring through the   
soft soil1 and the eyes1 being so tiny1 
are never injured by the soil through   
which the pointed snout passes4  ,for a 
long time people failed to discover that
 the mole possessed eyes1 so rudimentary
 and hidden are they4 ,they are covered 
by the soft fur1 and it is to be        
presumed that as they are of little or  
no use in the total darkness of         
subterranean passages1 they serve only  
to apprise their owner of the approach  
of light whenever it may find itself    
near the surface of the ground4 ,it     

sometimes has happened to me to find a  
mole strayed from its habitation1 ,i    
suppose1 and on the surface of the soil4
 ,from the experiment of putting an     
obstacle in front of it1 and its        
avoidance thereof1 ,i have come to the  
conclusion that it can see slightly1    
though it is evident when you dissect   
the head that the organs of hearing are 
vastly more developed than those of     
sight4 ,the sense of smell is perhaps   
stronger than that of hearing--as one   
would infer from the long1 pointed1     
greyhound-like snout2 and this should be
 borne in mind when setting the trap4   
,if indeed1 in the case of any animal1  
you are told that the sense of smell is 
well developed1 handle the ginsnare or  
trap as little as possible with the     
naked hand4 ,there is a distinctive odor
 in the human hand which animals1       
whether vermin or not1 seem instantly to
 recognize4  ,illustration3 ,fig4 #b4   
,moles construct a fortress1 or         
habitation1 under a hillock or some such

 convenient protection as a sort of     
central position1 from which they       
proceed outwards through various 8runs0 
or roads in search of food 7see ,fig4   
#b74 ,this fortress has a dome of earth1
 which is beaten hard by the creature1  
and so rendered strong and impervious to
 rain1 snow1 dews1 or frost4 ,a in ,fig4
 #b represents the hollow center1 which 
is also dry and hard1 whilst ,b ,b ,b   
signify the ramifying tunnels leading   
into the galleries of the central       
fortress1 and outwards to the tracts for
 feeding and exploration1 as well as to 
the nests of the various pairs of sexes 
forming the community4 ,along these     
tracts the individuals travel and obtain
 their livelihood1 never stopping to    
gossip2 for if1 indeed1 one mole meets  
another by chance1 one must turn out of 
the way into the nearest alley1 or there
 is a 8row10 which generally means death
 to the weaker--for1 let me tell you1   
,mr4 ,talpa is a very pugnacious little 
man when thwarted4  ,of course1 you know

 that the food of the mole is chiefly   
comprised of worms--and speaking of that
 reminds me of a method ,i once saw of  
catching moles1 which was cruel but very
 singular4 ,i was fishing on the ,colne1
 near ,wraysbury1 and ,i noticed an old 
man in the field behind me industriously
 going over the ground1 and here and    
there drawing out a live mole by means  
of what seemed a string4  ,i laid down  
my rod and went over to him1 and after a
 little persuasion ,i got to understand 
the whole bag of tricks4 ,his method was
 to dig down to a fresh tunnel and 8lay0
 a lobworm1 threaded on a rather small  
fish-hook tied on fine brass wire1      
covering in the hole with leaves and    
dirt and securing the wire by a string  
to a stout peg4 ,the mole1 being almost 
sure to return1 would thus take the     
bait1 and in most cases get hooked in   
the mouth4 ,this seems to me1 however1 a
 needlessly cruel way of mole-catching  
when there are others quite as effectual
 and practically painless1 and ,i shall 

therefore not go any farther into the   
particulars necessary for its practice4 
,moles are extremely voracious and1 this
 being so1 they crave and enjoy large   
quantities of water4 ,i have frequently 
watched moles descending by a beaten run
 to the water--and1 indeed1 just        
opposite where ,i am writing there is a 
tiny roadway from a mole hillock to the 
neighboring ditch4 ,should a plentiful  
supply such as this not be handy1 the   
little animal sinks a well for himself1 
beating the interior hard and forming   
quite a little shaft1 which receives the
 rain and stores it4 ,i came across one 
some time ago which was quite a foot in 
depth and almost full4  ,i have said    
that there is a fortress usually built  
by a colony of moles in the approximate 
form of ,fig4 #b1 and so there is4 ,the 
aim of the mole-catcher should be if    
possible to find out where this central 
position is and cut off retreat4 ,i have
 seen the mole-catcher in ,windsor ,park
 dig the moles out on finding out this  

metropolis of moles--as it might be     
fitly called4  ,it has been proved that 
immediately on anything very alarming   
occurring1 they forsake their           
explorations and flee into the citadel4 
,this is how it was done and who did it4
  ,monsieur le ,court1 a ,french        
gentleman1 very sensibly believing that 
there was little else but horror and    
danger in the tumult and bloodshed of   
the great ,french ,revolution1 fled from
 the court where he had waited on and   
been the companion of the highest1 and  
secluded himself in the depth of the    
country to become the historian and     
friend of the humble ,la ,taupe1 as the 
,french term the mole4 ,m4 ,geoffrey    
,st4 ,hillaire visited him1 and together
 they watched their opportunity till one
 of the moles had penetrated far from   
the fortress in search of food4  ,le    
,court then placed straws with little   
flags on the end out of the ground at   
intervals in the passage behind the mole
 in such a way that if the creature fled

 back again it would infallibly knock   
them down4 ,with a trumpet buried1      
leaving the mouth-piece out of the      
ground1 he blew a blast loud enough to  
shake the good-nature out of the best   
toy of your acquaintance1 and instantly 
one after the other1 almost as fast as a
 horse can trot1 down went the little   
flags till the central home was reached4
 ,the mole usually builds at the        
intersection of several of the roads and
 not in the habitation4 ,its nest       
consists of fibers and dried grass1     
straw1 etc41 and the young seldom number
 more than five4 ,moles will sometimes  
take the water1 but such instances are  
extremely rare2 there is no reason1     
however1 why it should not be a good    
swimmer1 its front paws being so        
spatulous and strong4  ,illustration3   
,fig4 #c4 ,fig4 #d4  ,mole trapping is  
very seldom practiced1 except by        
professionals1 who besides the blood    
money generally awarded on the          
production of each mole's tail1 make a  

very nice little amount by selling the  
skins4 ,still there is nothing difficult
 about mole catching1 and the most      
stupid boy could render himself         
successful if he observes a little and  
follows the directions ,i am about to   
give4 ,first1 then as to tools1 which   
are indispensable when one is out for a 
day's trap-setting4 ,fig4 #c shows an   
implement which at ,a consists of an    
iron heavy spike which is used for      
making holes for the insertion of the   
spring stick of the trap to be described
 presently4 ,b is the wooden haft--ash  
is as good as any2 ,c is a sort of      
spatula or little spade for digging into
 a mole run4 ,fig4 #d shows a light     
hatchet or a rather long handle for     
cutting hazel or ash-spring sticks1     
pointing them1 etc4  ,illustration3     
,fig4 #e4  ,now as to the traps         
themselves4 ,fig4 #e shows the iron     
trap1 usually sold with galvanized      
uprights and claws4 ,a indicates the    
spring which1 on the mole by placing its

 head in the circular orifice of ,b     
releasing the latter1 closes the claws  
to1 killing the mole instantly4 ,b1 of  
course1 is a movable tongue of the shape
 shown at ,c1 and ought to be tied to   
the body of the trap in case the mole   
should by any means escape1 pulling the 
tongue 7,c7 after it4 ,this is1 of      
course1 a very neat kind of trap1 but a 
dozen of them would come expensive1 and 
besides1 ,i do not prefer them in actual
 practice on a large scale1 as they are 
by no means so likely to be viewed      
without suspicion by the mole as are the
 homespun traps ,i am going to describe4
  ,get a strip of wood 7deal is as good 
as anything7 about six inches long by   
four broad and half an inch thick1 like 
,d1 ,fig4 #f4 ,bore nine holes in it1   
four for the reception of the ends of   
two half circular hoofs of wood shown at
 ,a1 and four smaller ones for the two  
wires at ,a#b ,a#b to pass through4 ,one
 largish hole is made in the center1 and
 through this passes a cord with a knot 

at the end 7,c74 ,b shows a piece of    
wood cut like a little spatula with a   
somewhat blunt handle or head 7see      
,b#b74 ,this tongue is placed against   
the knot when the spring hazel stick ,e 
is in position as in ,fig4 #g4 ,i want  
you to look carefully at ,fig4 #f       
because it very nearly explains itself4 
,illustration3 ,fig4 #f4  ,the whole    
apparatus is buried in the ground in the
 run of a mole1 and fastened down by    
sticks stuck athwart and across1 as     
shown at ,fig4 #g4 ,the stick ,e is thus
 kept in position by the knot ,c and the
 tongue ,b and ,b#b4 ,when a mole passes
 through the circular loops at ,a ,a it 
hits its nose against ,b and knocks it  
out1 releasing the knot ,c1 which in    
turn releases the bent stick1 up this   
flies1 and one of the wires ,a#b are    
bound to catch the hapless ,talpa1      
compressing it so strongly as to kill it
 almost instantly4  ,illustration3 ,fig4
 #g4  ,these are the details of how to  
set the trap4 ,having found out a run   

where the mole-heaps are fresh1 or have 
recently been thrown up1 cut down with  
the spade end of your tool 7,fig4 #c7   
into it1 and with your hands take out   
the dirt1 feeling for and making clear  
the direction of the passage each way4  
,now with the pointed end of ,fig4 #c   
make a hole slantwise1 but not too much 
so1 for the insertion of ,e 7,fig4 #f71 
which should be a hazel1 withy1 or ash  
stick from half an inch in diameter4    
,adjust the string of the trap to the   
top of it1 and then set the tongue1     
carefully spreading the loops of wire   
within the hoops4 ,now1 with the left   
hand on the trap1 and assisted by the   
knee1 bend the spring stick down1 place 
the trap in its position1 and with the  
right hand force in some short hazel    
sticks across and across1 as shown in   
,fig4 #g4 ,this done1 your trap is set1 
and a turf can be broken up and spread  
round the top of it1 to keep out any    
light1 from the interior of the run4 ,if
 my readers have carefully gone through 

this explanation with me there is no    
fear but that they will be able to make 
and set the trap--and also catch moles4 
,damp weather1 or after a warm shower1  
is the best time to set these traps2 and
 as many as twenty or thirty should be  
systematically set per day while moles  
exist and good weather lasts4 ,the      
straightened character of the stick will
 infallibly indicate when the trap is   
sprung1 and if no mole be caught move it
 a little farther away1 but not away    
from the colony entirely1 and set again4
  ,the skins of the moles are in best   
condition in autumn1 and if a sufficient
 number be properly cured1 and set      
together by a professional furrier1 a   
warm and rich garment1 either cloak1    
hat1 or waistcoat can be made4 ,i have a
 mole-skin waistcoat ,i have worn for   
four winters1 and it is far from being  
worn out yet4 ,queen ,victoria has eight
 hundred skins sent annually to ,windsor
 ,castle by the ,park mole-catcher1 for 
preparation and making up4 ,i dare say  

this man catches two or three thousand  
moles every year1 and yet the number    
seem not to decline1 so unfailing is the
 multiplication of these velvety little 
fellows4  ,the professional mole-catcher
 usually skins his moles in a very      
summary manner4 ,simply passing a very  
sharp knife round the head1 and cutting 
off the forefeet1 he turns the skin off 
inside out as ,i should do an eel4      
,indeed1 it is a more rapid process than
 eel-skinning1 for ,i once had a match  
with a mole-catcher1 which was that ,i  
was to skin six fair-sized eels1 while  
he skinned six moles4 ,i lost1 though ,i
 am exceedingly quick with eels1 by one 
eel1 much to my annoyance1 for ,i had   
loudly boasted of my dexterity4 ,having 
skinned his mole as ,i described1 the   
mole-catcher then simply stuffs a       
pledget of hay or wadding into the skin 
and leaves it to dry4  ,if you have     
time1 however1 it is much better to skin
 the mole by making an incision down the
 belly1 and taking off the fur as you   

would do in the case of a rabbit4 ,it   
should then be tacked with small tin    
tacks to a dry board1 the inside toward 
you1 and after removing with a blunt    
knife any particles of fat1 it should be
 dressed with a soap made as            
follows3--whiting or chalk1 #a-a_/b oz42
 soft soap1 #a oz42 chloride of lime1 #b
 oz4 ,if these ingredients are not handy
 powdered alum will serve1 though not so
 well4  ,now1 one word in conclusion of 
this chapter on the mole1 and it will   
serve as good advice whenever you are   
trapping4 ,be quiet2 do not go lumbering
 all over the ground with the tread of a
 cart-horse1 for it must be borne in    
mind that the mole has not only a good  
perception of actual sounds1 but an     
exquisite sense of vibration4 ,like a   
trout1 the softest tread will in some   
cases apprise it of danger and cause it 
to retire to its citadel4 ,your object  
is to catch moles by cutting off their  
retreat1 for if they are in the central 
habitation they may not take the route  

when next a start is made that you      
desire and in which the trap is set4    
,,ii4 ,,the ,,weasel1 ,,stoat ,,and     
,,polecat4   8,if we consider the animal
 creation on a broad scale1 the         
aggregate of living beings will be found
 to be the devourers and destroyers of  
others40 ,the editor of ,cassel's       
,natural ,history is responsible for    
this statement1 and it struck me as a   
forcible and appropriate one for this   
chapter on weasels1 etc4 ,without doubt 
the weasel1 next to the rat1 is one of  
the most destructive of our vermin1     
preying as it does with extraordinary   
ferocity on leverets1 chicken1 young    
ducks1 pigeons1 rabbits1 in fact1 on all
 creatures more timorous than itself4   
,truly it is not a very formidable enemy
 to the farmer in connection with his   
granaries and other stores1 for it is an
 inveterate slayer of ruts and mice1 but
 the gamekeeper cannot tolerate it4 ,its
 8treasons1 stratagems and spoils0 are1 
without exception1 excessive above all  

other of the spoiling mammalia          
whatsoever4  ,perhaps you doubt the     
conclusions to which ,i arrive in       
reference to this pretty1 brown-backed  
white-bodied little animal1 and there   
are some naturalists whose writings seem
 to clothe it with very different       
characteristics4 ,a certain             
,mademoiselle de ,laistre seems to      
contradict1 in one of her letters1 the  
commonly received opinion that it cannot
 be domesticated4 ,she describes with   
touching minuteness how her weasel would
 drink milk out of her hands and fondle 
with her1 showing signs of satisfaction 
and enjoyment1 which could scarcely be  
apart from intelligence4 8,the little   
creature10 she says1 8can distinguish my
 voice amid twenty others1 and springs  
over every one in the room till it finds
 me4 ,nothing can exceed the lively and 
pleasing way it caresses me with its two
 little paws2 it frequently pats me on  
the chin in a manner that expresses the 
utmost fondness4 ,this1 with a thousand 

other kindnesses1 convinces me of the   
sincerity of its attachment4 ,he is     
quite aware of my intention when dressed
 to go out1 and then it is with much    
difficulty ,i can rid myself of him4 ,on
 these occasions he will conceal himself
 behind a cabinet near the door and     
spring on me as ,i pass with astonishing
 quickness40  ,this testimony would seem
 to rather invest mustela vulgaris with 
domestic virtues at least rare in his   
family1 and1 sooth to say1 there is a   
vast crowd of witnesses waiting to be   
heard1 whose report of his character is 
far different4 ,the weasel1 agile and   
lithe as he is1 is ferocious to the     
degree which scorns fear1 and there are 
many instances wherein he has attacked  
the absolute viceroy of creation--man4  
,i recollect once chasing a weasel with 
some determination and finding myself   
suddenly confronted by some seven or    
eight others1 who ran up my legs and    
endeavored to reach my face4            
,fortunately ,i beat them off and killed

 seven with the stick ,i carried1 but ,i
 feel satisfied ,i should not have      
escaped so well if ,i had not stood my  
ground and luckily possessed a stick4   
,i have frequently heard of similar     
experiences1 and one ,i find is recorded
 in a cutting from a ,scotch newspaper  
in my scrap-book4  ,one night1 it       
appears1 the father of ,captain ,brown1 
the naturalist1 was returning from      
,gilmerton1 near ,edinburgh1 by the     
,dalkeith road4 ,he observed on the high
 ground at a considerable distance      
betwixt him and ,craigmillar ,castle a  
man who was leaping about performing a  
number of antic gestures more like those
 of a madman than of a sane person4     
,after contemplating this apparently    
absurd conduct1 he thought it might be  
some unfortunate maniac1 and1 climbing  
over the walls1 made directly towards   
him4 ,when he got pretty near he saw    
that the man had been attacked1 and was 
defending himself against the assaults  
of a number of small animals which he at

 first took for rats1 but which1 in     
fact1 turned out on getting closer1 to  
be a colony of from fifteen to twenty   
weasels1 which the unfortunate man was  
tearing from him and endeavoring to keep
 from his throat4 ,had he not been a    
powerful man1 capable of sustaining the 
extreme fatigue of this singular        
exertion1 he probably would have        
succumbed to the repeated efforts made  
by the ferocious little creatures to get
 at his throat4 ,as it was1 his hands   
were much bitten1 and bleeding          
profusely4  ,it further appears that the
 commencement of the battle was nearly  
as follows4 ,he was walking slowly      
through the park when he happened to see
 a weasel4 ,he ran at it1 and made      
several unsuccessful attempts to strike 
it with a small cane he held in his     
hand4 ,on coming near the rock1 he got  
between it and the animal1 and thus cut 
off retreat4 ,the weasel squeaked out   
aloud1 when a sortie of the whole colony
 was made1 and the affray commenced4    

,apropos of this1 ,i have read somewhere
 of a colony of rats attacking a        
condemned criminal in the sewers of     
,paris--or in a dungeon closely         
contiguous--and ,i can quite believe    
that hunger and numbers would render    
these horrible vermin capable of        
homicide4  ,i do not quite see how any  
one can pity the members of this weasel 
family4 ,let any one of my boy readers  
hear the agonized cries of a pursued    
rabbit as it finds its relentless foe   
chasing it with a determination and     
persistence quite unequaled1 and he will
 probably find the ,american love of    
fair play prompt him to take the weaker 
creature's part4  ,emphatically ,i      
declare it--a weasel never relinquishes 
its quarry till the life's blood has    
been sucked and the brain extracted and 
eaten4 ,then wasteful as the little     
tyrant is1 the rats may have the        
remainder1 whilst it seeks for more     
prey4 ,its little finger-thick body and 
black1 venom-leaden eyes seem the       

incarnation of destructiveness1 whilst  
over the sharp incisive teeth rows might
 well be written    8,ch'entrate        
lasciate ogni speranza10  the terrible  
epigraph ,dante1 in his wonderful       
8,divina ,commedia10 saw inscribed over 
the portals of the infernal regions4    
,perhaps there is one redeeming feature 
in all this pitiless ferocity1 and that 
is the indomitable courage with which   
the weasel defends its young against all
 marauders4 ,it breeds as fast as a     
rabbit--that is1 two or three1 or even  
more times in a year--and its nest of   
dried herbage and undergrowth is        
generally made in the hollow of some old
 tree or wall4 ,close by the nest may   
often be found the remains of putrid    
mice1 rats1 birds1 etc41 which          
circumstance has suggested to some      
naturalists the conclusion that the     
weasel prefers carrion to fresh food4   
,this is erroneous4 ,it is true that it 
hunts1 like some dogs1 entirely1 or     
nearly so1 by scent1 and will even      

follow the sightless mole through the   
interminable windings of its burrow2 but
 fresh flesh and blood are its delight1 
and if there be a plentitude of food it 
disdains all the grosser parts of its   
prey with a fastidiousness worthy of    
,apicius1 the gourmet4 ,the weasel      
generally produces five or six young    
ones at a birth4  ,illustration3 ,fig4  
#aa4  ,i do not counsel sparing the     
weasel any more than the rat4 ,the best 
place for the gins to be set is         
underneath a wall whereby the weasel is 
known to travel4 ,the best trap         
unquestionably is the steel trap1 or    
gin1 and the best bait is the inside of 
a newly-killed rabbit4 ,this is the     
concrete essence of my experience4 ,you 
can scent the bait with musk1 and this  
addition will often prove of exceeding  
service4 ,at the ends of drains1 in the 
hollows of old buildings1 in the dry    
tracts of ditches1 by old trees--all    
these are likely places and a careful   
watch will often discover their tracks4 

,in setting the gin do not allow it to  
spring hard as if you expected an       
elephant of the ,jumbo type to tread on 
the plate4 ,on the contrary1 let it     
spring very lightly1 and if possible    
hang the bait up1 so that the creature  
puts a foot on the plate and so gets    
caught4 ,a very good sort of trap for   
open places is a fall-trap1 which may be
 made at home and is useful for nearly  
all kinds of vermin1 including even     
birds 7,see ,fig4 #aa74 ,some little    
explanation is needed for the complete  
understanding of this trap4 ,a is a     
board hollowed near the letter ,a to    
relieve e when the trap falls4 ,b is a  
slab of lead or iron cut to admit a and 
f2 h is a hinge holding c1 which1 when  
adjusted at g1 impinges on a1 and so    
sustains the slab ,b4 ,on the little    
hooks d the bait is fixed1 and the      
weasel confidently places his foot on e4
 ,of course f then springs from g and   
down falls the slab1 crushing the       
captive instantly4 ,a stone slab is     

quite as useful1 if not more so1 than   
lead or iron1 and it is evident that    
this fall-trap can be set with the      
greatest ease and delicacy4             
,illustration3 ,fig4 #ab4  ,the next    
useful trap is termed 8,the ,fig4 #d    
,trap10 from its resemblance to that    
character1 and is shown in the engraving
 7,fig4 #ab74 ,this consists of a large 
slab of stone1 metal1 or wood1 propped  
up by three pieces of wood 7,a1 ,b and  
,c74 ,if the engraving be carefully     
examined it will be seen to consist of a
 perpendicular ,a1 of a horizontal bar  
,c1 at one end of which is attached the 
bait ,d1 and of a slanting stick ,b4    
,the upright ,a is usually half an inch 
square1 and cut to a sort of            
chisel-shape at top2 a notch is also cut
 in the side of the stretcher ,c1 as    
shown in the side diagram x1 to prevent 
it slipping down2 and a notch is also   
cut at the top of ,b to receive the     
upright1 as well as in ,c1 to fix it1 ,b
 being at this latter point of a chisel 

shape4 ,it will be obvious to the       
attentive reader that if this trap be   
set carefully1 and with a sufficiency of
 delicacy1 a very slight tug at ,d will 
be sufficient to bring down the slab1   
crushing the animal1 or1 if a hollow be 
made in the ground1 imprisoning it4     
,this trap1 for nearly all vermin 7of   
course1 except moles71 is very cheap and
 effective2 and for cats--in their wrong
 places1 of course--is remarkably       
useful1 especially if ,d represent a    
sponge1 on which tincture of valerian or
 oil of rhodium has been sprinkled4 ,one
 advantage of this trap is that it is   
inexpensive1 and not likely to be       
coveted by anybody else4 ,the gin has1  
however1 preference in my mind over     
other artificial traps for weasels1 and 
,i counsel all my readers to adopt it as
 the surest if their pockets will       
sustain the initial expense4 ,there is1 
however1 nothing lost in endeavoring to 
make your own traps1 for such           
perseverance implies interest in the    

pursuit of trapping1 and this           
necessarily is the central motive       
towards the acquirement of natural      
knowledge4  ,there is one method of     
capturing weasels which ,i have found   
very useful1 though it entails the loss 
of an innocent live bird in many cases4 
,form a sort of oblong square with      
brushwood and close it all in except two
 narrow lanes leading to the center1 at 
which point peg down a young chicken or 
bird4 ,set the traps1 as closely        
concealed as possible at the ends of    
these lanes1 so that neither by ingress 
nor egress can the weasel escape without
 the chance of being caught4 ,each trap 
should be set very lightly1 and in some 
dry ditch near a covert1 or by the side 
of a wall1 or1 in fact1 in any likely   
spot recognized by the trained eye4     
,here is another bad character in the   
polecat1 or foumart1 and as it is the   
largest of the two1 it commonly does    
most damage1 though in saying this ,i   
really am not sure ,i can place either  

or them first in this respect4 ,the     
weasel and polecat are unmitigated      
robbers and assassins1 and according to 
opportunity are given indifferently to  
bad habits of the worst character4 ,the 
polecat is1 however1 nearly sixteen     
inches from that to eighteen inches in  
length1 and its bite is terrific and    
sometimes poisonous4 ,beware1 therefore1
 of it when releasing one caught in a   
trap2 in fact1 as ,i before impressed on
 you1 8kill it first40 ,the body of the 
polecat has a woolly undercoat of pale  
yellow1 while the longer hairs are of a 
deep glossy brown4  ,its habits are very
 similar to those of the weasel1 and it 
commonly kills chickens by biting the   
head off and then sucking the blood1    
leaving perhaps a dozen bodies as       
mementoes of its visitation4 ,i have    
known it to catch fish1 and ,i caught   
one in a trap1 set as ,i supposed at the
 time1 for an otter4 ,the otter turned  
out to be a polecat1 however1 which     
measured1 exclusive of the tail1        

fourteen inches4 ,eels seemed to be the 
prey for which it took water1 as ,i had 
previously found the remains of several 
half-eaten on the shore4  ,this         
circumstance was a strange one to me1   
and altogether exceptional1 until ,i    
looked up my natural history books1 when
 ,i found that ,bewick refers to a      
similar fact in his 8,quadrupeds40 ,he  
says3--8,during a severe storm one of   
these animals was traced in the snow    
from the side of a rivulet to its hole  
at some distance from it4444 ,its hole  
was examined1 the foumart taken1 and    
eleven fine eels were discovered as the 
fruits of its nocturnal exertions4 ,the 
marks on the snow were found to have    
been made by the motions of the eels    
while in the creature's mouth40 ,we have
 no reason for doubting ,bewick1 but it 
is certain that the polecat must have   
extracted the eels from either beneath  
stones or mud1 where1 during cold       
weather such as described1 it is their  
infallible habit to retire in a         

semi-torpid condition4  ,in trapping it 
use a strong gin1 and set very lightly4 
,the baits are precisely similar to     
those for the weasel4 ,be1 above all1   
careful to use the naked hands as little
 as possible4     ,,iii4 ,,rats4   ,rats
 may1 ,i think1 fairly lay claim to     
being the most mischievous of all       
vermin4 ,they are fellows of            
irreclaimably bad habits1 and never so  
happy as when devouring or destroying   
something4 ,artemus ,ward has placed it 
on record that 8,injins is pisen        
wherever you meet 'em10 and the same    
might be said of rats4 ,in that         
exquisitely whimsical poem of           
,browning's1 8,the ,pied ,piper of      
,hamelin10 we are told that the         
townspeople were plagued emphatically   
with                                    
8,rats6   ,they fought the dogs and     
killed the cats1     ,and bit the babies
 in their cradles1   ,and ate the       
cheeses out of the vats1     ,and licked
 the soup from the cook's own ladles4   

,split open the kegs of salted sprats1  
,made nests inside men's ,sunday hats1  
,and even spoiled the women's chats     
,by drowning their speaking     ,with   
shrieking and squeaking   ,in fifty     
different sharps and flats40  ,i have   
not the least doubt but that they did   
all this and other things worse2 hence  
,i would say with no uncertainty1 8,slay
 all and spare none10 whenever you get a
 chance4 ,i do not know of one redeeming
 feature in the character of ,mus       
decumanus unless it be good in a pie1 as
 our friend the ,rev4 ,j4 ,g4 ,wood     
hints that it is from experimental      
trial4  ,hundreds on hundreds of tales  
relating to its cunning or intelligence 
might be cited until you were heartily  
tired of reading1 much less ,i of       
writing4 ,how rats will bite holes in   
leaden pipes1 attack the face of a      
sleeping infant--an instance of which ,i
 might relate from actual knowledge--how
 they devour each other1 leaving only   
the skin turned inside out as neatly as 

you could turn a stocking1 and last1 but
 far from least1 how they have been     
trained to perform a drama in pantomime 
and various other tricks quite too      
numerous to refer to here4 ,the rat is  
practically omnivorous1 and so gets his 
living where more select appetites and  
digestions would starve4 8,hit him 'ard1
 he ain't a' got no friends10 as was    
said of the pauper boy in 8,oliver      
,twist40 ,every creature's hand seems   
turned against him1 and we1 agreeably to
 this bent of nature1 will now proceed  
to compass his destruction by means of  
trapping4  ,illustration3 ,fig4 #h4     
,unquestionably the best trap is the    
common iron gin4 ,everybody knows what  
that is like1 with its centre plate and 
formidable rows of teeth on either side 
the jaws4 ,i shall therefore spare you a
 drawing and description of it1 and     
content myself with simply advising that
 the teeth be of the shape shown at     
,fig4 #h--that is1 square points fitting
 when closed in half circles4 ,now this 

form of tooth does not cut through the  
limb of the captured animal so readily  
as the saw-shaped does1 and is          
preferable on that account4 ,rats are   
very prone to gnaw through a fractured  
limb and free themselves--they will not 
do this nearly so readily1 however1 if  
the teeth be of the shape indicated4    
,this is also the best shape for the    
capture of other vermin1 as we shall see
 as these chapters proceed4             
,illustration3 ,fig4 #i4  ,in all cases 
a chain about eighteen inches is        
attached by means of an ,s hook in the  
gin4 ,a swivel should be placed about   
the middle1 and a ring of about an inch 
and a quarter should terminate it4 ,a   
good stout stake1 about eighteen inches 
long1 is also necessary1 and ash is     
particularly recommendable if it can be 
procured4 ,if it be trimmed when cut1   
like ,fig4 #i1 so that a short piece of 
branch keeps the ring from slipping off1
 so much the better4 ,another tool which
 is ever useful when gins are being set 

7and that will be pretty frequent with  
the vermin ,i shall speak about7 is a   
hammer shaped something like ,fig4 #aj4 
,you will see that it has a broad1      
hatchet-like form to it instead of the  
claws of an ordinary hammer1 and this is
 for cutting into the earth1 separating 
roots1 etc4 ,in twenty ways it comes in 
useful1 so ,i advise my readers to get  
one made after this pattern4            
,illustration3 ,fig4 #aj4  ,be careful  
in setting your trap to keep your       
fingers well away from the teeth1 and to
 do this observe the following method4  
,place your right foot upon the spring  
firmly1 and as the jaws fall back1      
quickly lift the catch over with your   
right hand2 then1 without relaxing      
pressure1 raise the plate of the trap   
from underneath until it allows of the  
catch to meet the nick in the plate4    
,set them lightly or hard1 according to 
the animal to be trapped4 ,experience   
will soon enable you to judge how this  
should be for a rat4 ,a fine sieve is   

generally used by trappers to sift dirt 
over the trap when set1 but you can     
dispense with this if you wear gloves4  
,in rat-trapping1 by the by1 always wear
 thick gloves2 rats can smell you       
infallibly4  ,you can easily detect a   
rat-run1 and quite as easily tell if it 
be fresh or not1 by noticing the        
appearance of the excrement4 ,having    
determined on a fresh run1 endeavor so  
to set your trap that the catch shall be
 light1 and the whole affair completely 
hidden from sight1 the pan or plate     
being baited with whatever seems to have
 been the recent food1 or food most     
likely to be got near by the run4 ,for  
rats in runs where they come to feed1 by
 walls1 rick-sides1 or places at which  
they appear most1 the traps should be   
set4 ,when the run appear stale or not  
much used1 they should be shifted to    
other places4 ,for rats a great variety 
of baits may be used1 but the best is   
generally something like what they are  
in the habit of feeding upon on farm    

premises2 grain1 with sufficient chaff  
or cut hay to cover the bottom1 meal    
mixed with sweet broth or small bits of 
meat4 ,rats may be enticed with oils of 
aniseed1 thyme1 and rhodium1 and when   
traps are new and smell of the shop a   
few drops should be rubbed inside the   
bottom of the traps to take the other   
smell away4 ,by using a drag of these   
oils1 rubbed on a herring or a piece of 
clean rag1 rats may be enticed a long   
way4  ,a capital bait for old poaching  
rats--such as would not hesitate to kill
 your spring chickens or young          
rabbits--is the drawing of game of any  
sort1 or the young of pigeons or young  
birds4 ,i have also found the following 
a capital dodge to enable one to        
overcome the cunning of an old buck rat4
 ,get some sprats and pound them4 ,put  
them in glass bottles and cork and seal1
 and hang them up in the sun for three  
weeks or so1 or put them on a dung-hill 
of moderate heat4 ,this will entirely   
decompose and resolve them into an oily 

substance exceedingly bad smelling4     
,pour some of this on a rag and drag it 
about from a common center where the    
trap is1 and indeed it is well to drag  
it after one as the traps are seen to   
successively4 ,the trap bait should be  
roasted salt fish4 ,a kippered herring  
does famously1 and a few drops of oil of
 aniseed can be put on the bait4 ,i have
 known this to be exceedingly           
successful4  ,a similar sort of         
treatment is necessary for the          
water-rat4 ,there is1 however1 but      
little necessity to use baits if the    
trap be set under water at the spot     
where the creature emerges4 ,the precise
 place can be easily seen1 and its      
freshness or staleness as a 8run0 be    
determined in the same way as that of a 
brown rat4 ,the water-rat is easily     
distinguished from its cousin the brown 
by the tail of the former being covered 
with hair and that of the latter with   
scales1 of which there are #bjj rows4   
,it must not be supposed1 however1      

because the water-rat derives its living
 from the water chiefly that it is not a
 destructive creature inland4 ,a very   
interesting writer says3 8,we have seen 
water-rats cross a wide meadow1 climb   
the stalks of the dwarf beans1 and after
 detaching the pods with their teeth1   
shell the beans in a most woman-like    
manner40 ,they are also said to mount   
vines and feed on grapes1 and ,i can    
verify that they are fond of plums from 
the following incident3  ,between my    
study window and the margin of a stream 
at the foot of my garden stand two tall 
trees of the bullace plum1 and this year
 they have been unusually full of fruit4
 ,i placed a ladder against one of the  
trees in order to pick the plums1 but   
rain or some other interference         
prevented my doing so at the intended   
time2 thus the ladder remained for some 
days4 ,now ,i have a large tabby cat1   
and besides a good rat-killer she is    
fond of birds1 and strangely enough will
 climb trees and spring at a bird within

 reach1 in nine cases out of ten falling
 to the ground with her captive in her  
mouth4 ,as ,i sat writing one morning   
,tabby mounted her coign of vantage by  
means of the ladder1 and scaled to the  
topmost height1 enjoying the sunshine1  
and not1 ,i fancy1 on this occasion     
waiting for prey4 ,however1 good things 
come when least expected1 and presently 
,tabby and ,i both beheld a large       
water-rat--unseen by the latter1 of     
course--approach the ladder1 and after  
peering slyly round1 began to mount it1 
which he did with remarkable agility4   
,on reaching the first large branch he  
stepped on it1 and without the least    
hesitation made for a cluster of the    
plums and began his feast4 ,i told you  
,tabby saw him as well as ,i1 and ,i    
would have given much too if she had    
not4 ,as ,mr4 ,rat sat absorbed with his
 back to her1 like a jungle leopard1    
creeping with silent certainty on its   
innocent1 unsuspecting prey1 ,tabby     
slowly approached1 and the steadfast    

glare in her greenish eyes was full of a
 deadly purpose1 which gathered strength
 as she progressed4 ,presently1 when    
within three feet of the still          
gourmandizing rat1 her fell purpose     
culminated in a terrific but unerring   
spring1 which tumbled rat and cat out of
 the tree to the ground4 ,habet6 alas6  
he had it1 and after a few terrific     
crunches of her jaws ,tabby rose from   
the body proudly1 with swinging tail and
 a victorious air1 which as plainly as  
language conveyed infinite              
self-complacency at the death-dealing   
deed4  ,these rats are more clever in   
boring their tunnels than the brown     
species1 resembling1 in fact1 the       
ingenuity of the mole rather than the   
rat4 ,they are much more cleanly also4  
,should you get an apple or pear or     
melon which has been bitten by a brown  
rat you will instantly detect it by its 
peculiar musty odor and taste4 ,the     
water-rat is1 on the contrary1 a much   
more cleanly animal1 and its flesh is   

not uncommonly eaten by the ,french     
peasants on maigre days4 ,it breeds in  
the spring1 and again in autumn if the  
spring litter be very early1 bringing   
forth five or six at a time4 ,the nest  
is usually by the side of a river or    
stream4 ,in the roots of an old willow  
tree just opposite my house ,i found six
 nests this year4 ,not that these rats  
will not at times build away from the   
water4 ,i know of several instances1 as 
a neighbor was plowing in a dry1 chalky 
field1 far removed from any water1 he   
turned out a water rat that was         
curiously laid up in an hybernaculum    
artificially formed of grass and leaves4
 ,at one end lay about a gallon of      
potatoes1 regularly stowed1 on which it 
was to have supported itself for the    
winter4  ,when a rat is caught in a gin 
always be careful to keep your hand at a
 distance on releasing it4 ,in fact1 do 
not let it go at all1 but kill it at    
once4 ,i do not like the idea of letting
 a suffering animal be farther tormented

 by dogs1 or even cats4 ,there can be no
 true sport in it except1 perhaps1 to   
the savage instincts of the dog1 and why
 a human being should find cruel sport  
for a dog ,i cannot tell you4  ,the     
other species1 the black rat 7,mus      
rattus71 is perhaps a more ancient      
importation even than the brown4 ,it is1
 however1 scarcer than either of the    
others4 ,its colors are grayish black   
above and ash-colored1 and beneath it is
 about seven and a half inches long when
 full grown4  ,ferrets are often        
employed to aid in exterminating the    
brown rat4 ,the ferret is of no use     
whatever for the water-rat1 though it is
 certainly extremely useful when barns1 
wood-heaps1 and such like erections are 
infested4 ,the gun is the thing1 in the 
hands of an experienced sportsman1 to   
kill them as the ferrets force them to  
leave their homes1 but a few sharp dogs 
and a half dozen sharp school-fellows   
with sticks will produce very certain   
destruction4 ,be careful not to mistake 

the head of a ferret coming out of a    
hole for that of a rat1 as once happened
 to me in this wise4 ,i was staying at a
 farm-house1 and it was proposed one    
fine ,december morning to try an hour or
 two's ferreting4 ,my school chum1 with 
whom ,i was staying1 possessed some very
 tame and good working ferrets1 one in  
particular1 a fine brownish dog ferret1 
by which he set great store4 ,the great 
wheat barn was to be laid siege to1 and 
he being a good shot and older than ,i1 
took down his gun and loaded it         
preparatory to starting4  8,jack10 said 
he to me1 8you can shoot1 can't you80 ,i
 was but fourteen then and a school boy1
 and ,i fear ,i answered rather too     
readily and without sufficient modesty1 
8,oh1 yes2 have you a gun to spare80    
,yes1 he had a single-barrel pretty     
little weapon1 and1 proud as a          
cock-robin1 ,i sallied forth1 on mighty 
shots intent4 8,now10 said he1 with     
emphasis1 8stand here2 watch that hole1 
and as soon as you see the whole of a   

rat's body fire away1 but be careful not
 to kill a ferret1 which you may easily 
do if you fire too hastily40 ,i         
recollect ,i rather scorned the idea of 
mistaking a ferret for a rat1 and with  
steadfast attention prepared to kill the
 first of the rodents that appeared4 ,it
 seemed an age1 and then one swiftly    
popped his head out and bolted past me1 
my fire hitting the ground at least a   
yard behind him4 ,how savage ,i was6 not
 to speak of the half sneers of my      
companions4 ,next time ,i would be      
ready4 ,ah6 there was a slight movement 
in the hole1 a small nose poked itself  
out and then disappeared4 ,i pointed the
 gun straight for the hole4 ,out it came
 again1 and then a brown head swiftly   
appeared4 ,bang6 ,hurrah6 ,i had killed 
him4 ,round came the boys4 8,well done10
 said my friend ,ted1 as he stooped to  
draw out the murdered wretch4 8,why1 you
 duffing idiot1 you've killed my best   
dog ferret60 ,moral1 do not jump at     
conclusions4     ,,iv4 ,,the ,,otter4   

,the otter is one of the most graceful  
of living creatures1 but as a fisherman 
and fishculturist1 ,i candidly confess  
that ,i look on him as a detestable     
nuisance on my river4 ,what says the    
poet6                          8,nor    
spears   ,that bristle on his back      
defend the perch   ,from his wide1      
greedy jaws2 nor burnished mail   ,the  
yellow carp2 nor all his arts can save  
,th' insinuating eel1 that hides his    
head   ,beneath the slimy mud2 nor yet  
escapes   ,the crimson-spotted trout1   
the river's pride   ,and beauty of the  
stream40  ,this is a faithful picture of
 the otter's remorseless and predacious 
nature4 ,i caught one the other day in  
an eel-grate1 whither he had doubtless  
gone for the eels4 ,the biter was1      
however1 bit1 for the rush of water was 
too powerful1 and on opening the door in
 the morning ,i found him dead and      
stiff4  ,the otter usually kills many   
more fish than it actually wants for    
food1 and as otters generally hunt in   

pairs1 it is not uncommon to find in the
 morning as many as thirteen or fourteen
 prime trout--in an ordinarily plentiful
 river1 of course--killed and only      
partly eaten4 ,like the lord mayor's    
jester1 however1 the otter knows what is
 good1 or1 indeed1 best1 for it eats    
away the shoulders of the fish1 leaving 
the rest to rot or be devoured by rats4 
,i have said it is graceful1 and so it  
is1 in a remarkable degree4 ,let me     
advise you1 if you live in ,new ,york1  
to visit the ,zoological ,gardens1 in   
,central ,park1 and watch the fine      
sinuous turns and sweeps as the otter   
seizes or seeks for its prey4 ,its body 
is long and flexible1 and its feet short
 and webbed1 and the adjacent muscles   
are of immense muscular power4 ,its eyes
 are large1 the ears short1 and it is   
bewhiskered like a ,viking4 ,its coat is
 double1 like that of the seal4 ,long   
glossy hairs form the outer one1 and a  
short waterproof woolly waistcoat       
comprises the inner1 so that neither    

cold nor wet can affect the well-being  
of this amphibious hunter4 ,in the      
daytime it hides itself in its hole1    
which usually is some feet deep in the  
bank1 above highwater mark1 but at night
 its depredations commence2 and when the
 female has young1 say five1 and the    
male otter works with her1 as he        
generally does1 ,i estimate that from   
thirty to forty fish per night are1 if  
anything1 rather within the number than 
beyond4 ,can any one deny1 therefore1   
that the otter comes within the         
common-sense definition of vermin8  ,if 
the otter be taken young1 and great     
kindness and care be shown it1 it may be
 transferred from the category of vermin
 into that of 8pets10 and ,i do not     
think there is a much more interesting  
pet in existence1 and ,i recollect one  
which used to run about after its master
 at ,eton1 ,england1 some years since4  
,a friend of mine 7head river-keeper on 
a nobleman's estate7 took a tame one    
from an old poacher which the latter had

 constantly employed to catch fish and  
bring to him4 ,my friend tells me that  
when he caught the poacher he had some  
sixty fine trout1 scarcely injured1 in a
 bag1 all of which had been captured by 
the otter4  ,there are many instances of
 a similar character referred to in the 
natural history books which ,i cannot   
produce here4 ,it is sufficient to say  
that otter-taming1 and even the         
utilizing of the creature for fishing   
purposes1 is by no means uncommon4  ,the
 otter is usually hunted with dogs of a 
particular breed1 but ,i shall not      
attempt to describe this species of     
sport in this place4 ,there are those   
who object to hunting on principle1 and 
,i am not bigoted enough to say they are
 altogether wrong4 ,certain1 however1 it
 is that otter hunting is remarkably    
exhilarating1 and there is a great deal 
of fun to be got out of the mishaps     
which are sure to ensue to the hunters  
as they scamper and splash and rush and 
dash over the bowlders1 through bush and

 brier and stream and rivulet1 till the 
wily brute is either caught or          
8kenneled40 ,so far as we are now       
concerned1 ,i shall content myself with 
telling you how to trap this vermin of  
the water1 and if ever you become       
possessed of a stream or lake of fish do
 not forget that the otter is your      
chiefest enemy--excepting the human     
poacher1 of course4  ,now we will       
presume you are one morning early taking
 a walk by the side of your favorite    
stream4 ,on each side the willows and   
alders bend over the water and their    
roots clutch the banks with rugged      
fingers1 forming coverts for rats1      
moorhens1 dabchicks1 and other small    
fry1 as well as for the quiet-loving    
trout4  ,presently1 as you attentively  
note these features1 you are aware of a 
sort of footpath proceeding from the    
stream1 and on looking closer you notice
 that fresh excrement has been left and 
that footprints of a dog-like animal are
 to be seen in the soft earth4 ,follow  

this trail and perchance1 ere many steps
 have been taken1 you come upon the     
carmine-spotted body of a two-pound     
trout1 minus head and shoulders1 or a   
pound silver eel with its broadest part 
eaten away4 ,you now know that an otter 
has been at work1 and you must vow that 
he shall die4 ,but how8 ,listen4 ,the   
track is fresh4 ,good6 ,procure the     
largest rabbit-gin you can1 and after   
attaching it firmly to a stake driven   
under water1 drive two more sticks under
 water exactly where the otter comes    
ashore1 and set it upon them4 ,do not   
bait the trap at all1 or the otter will 
not come near1 but simply set it under  
water1 so that when his ottership comes 
to bank with his ill-gotten booty he    
puts his foot on the plate of the gin4  
,a good plan also1 where this one is not
 practicable1 is to carefully cut up a  
sod of dirt in the pathway of the otter1
 and set the gin very gingerly1 covering
 it up completely with short grass and a
 sprinkling of dirt4 ,in any case use   

gloves1 so that your hands are not      
smelt1 for1 strange as it may seem in an
 animal getting its food by sight1 the  
sense of smell is exquisitely developed 
in the otter4 ,when caught be very      
careful not to handle him4 ,his teeth   
are 8orful40  ,daniel1 in his 8,rural   
,sports10 says 8the trap must be set in 
and covered with mud to prevent the     
otter seeing it4 ,the instant the trap  
strikes1 the otter plunges into the     
water with it1 when its weight          
preventing his rising to the surface    
soon destroys him40 ,but ,i incline to  
my own plan in preference4 ,of course1  
if the 8spoor10 8spraint10 or 8seal0    
cannot be seen it is advisable to set   
several traps at intervals along the    
bank1 covering them lightly with moss4  
,v4 ,,the ,,squirrel4   ,at the         
commencement of this series of articles 
,i referred to the squirrel1 and quoted 
the words in which ,mr4 ,ruskin         
describes his unbounded admiration for  
this sprightly little fellow4 ,the      

squirrel has a very voracious appetite1 
however1 and if he once by accident or  
design tastes the luscious richness of  
pheasant or partridge egg he becomes a  
poacher of very extreme character4      
,game-keepers do not object to squirrels
 as a rule1 as long as they confine     
themselves to those parts of a covert   
where game are not1 though in the case  
of largely stocked preserves these parts
 are not easily found4  ,when ,master   
8,squiggy10 however1 takes to sucking   
eggs and teaching his grandmother and   
uncles1 aunts and cousins1 to do the    
same1 then it becomes a manifest duty to
 snare him and take him away if you do  
not kill him4 ,of course it is not      
likely that my boy readers will be      
called upon to assist professionally in 
such a proceeding1 but ,i will briefly  
describe how squirrels may be caught    
alive1 for when removed from the place  
of mischief they make capital pets after
 a time of patience and taming4         
,illustration3 ,fig4 #a4  ,it is        

necessary for two to embark in the      
proceedings that follow4 ,one is the    
climber1 and he1 ,i need scarcely say1  
should be a tolerably good one4 ,a pair 
of climbing irons are almost            
indispensable1 and ,i should certainly  
advise boys to get them4 ,he is also    
provided with a long pole with a loop of
 fine twisted brass wire attached to it 
7,fig4 #a74  ,now let us term these two 
warriors ,a and ,b4 ,having spotted a   
squirrel and observed him run up a tree1
 ,a attaches his irons and prepares to  
climb4 ,before this is done ,b stands   
beneath the tree and attracts the       
squirrel's attention1 and keeps his eye 
fixed on him1 ,b never moving from where
 he stands4 ,meanwhile ,a is gradually  
approaching from behind the squirrel1   
and when he is near enough he slips the 
loop over the creature's head1 gives a  
sharp wrench1 and lets the pole1        
squirrel1 and all drop to the ground to 
be secured by ,b4 ,of course the        
squirrel is almost choked1 but a firm   

hand in a thick leather glove soon      
releases the frightened animal1 and you 
have to do with him as your pleasure    
will4 ,you ought to take a bag with you 
and instantly pop him into it4 ,this is 
the way the men catch squirrels in the  
country1 and is far better than trapping
 them so as to cause pain4  ,i have thus
 told you how to catch squirrels without
 materially hurting them1 and ,i suppose
 ,i may as well tell you how to keep    
them4 ,well1 having caught the lively   
young gentleman1 keep him in the dark   
for a day or two1 only occasionally     
letting him get a glance of the outer   
world4 ,feed him during this period with
 beechnuts1 chestnuts1 and by all means 
let him have plenty of water4 ,after a  
time you may take away all covering from
 his cage and let him1 like yourself1   
enjoy the glories of the sunlight4 ,in a
 very short space of time his captivity 
will cease to be so irksome1 especially 
if for the first week or two you use him
 to only seeing yourself near4  ,the    

squirrel1 or at least the common red one
 of our forest1 seems remarkably        
intelligent1 and its humors vary almost 
as much in comparison as those of a     
child4 ,i kept four1 having brought them
 up from the nest1 and their antics and 
different moods were a source of        
continued amusement4 ,sometimes ,tom    
would quarrel with a sort of mimic anger
 with ,jill1 and ,jim and ,sam were     
almost continually finding fault with   
each other over poor unfortunate ,lady  
,jill1 whose chief misfortune seemed to 
be that she preferred ,tom to either of 
the others4 ,the affection seemed to be 
returned1 for if we gave a piece of     
potato to ,tom he instantly passed it   
over to ,jill and shared it4 ,sometimes 
entire good-humor would prevail1 when   
the gambols with each other were a very 
pretty sight4 ,this was generally on a  
fine sunny spring morning after a good  
meal of nuts4 ,the cage was large1 and a
 sort of leap-frog was kept up for half 
an hour1 ending by somebody getting     

,tom's temper out over ,miss ,jill4 ,i  
never had a bite from either1 and this  
,i attribute to my never handling them  
unnecessarily1 and never being afraid to
 take hold of them carefully but firmly4
  ,their end was a sad one4 ,i acquired 
a splendid ,persian cat1 and the        
strangeness of a new habitation made    
,miss ,pussy very spiteful and          
bad-tempered4 ,one day ,i had turned out
 the four squirrels in order to clean   
the cage thoroughly1 and they as usual  
betook themselves out of the window4    
,with a sudden bound ,puss had poor     
,jill1 and with one scrunch she was     
dead4 ,puss then bounded after the      
others1 and they escaping up a large yew
 tree ,i lost sight of all but one      
forever4 ,what ultimately became of ,jim
 and ,sam ,i never knew1 but ,tom would 
often show himself in the tree and look 
down with eyes which seemed to say      
mournfully1 8,ah1 you've killed my      
little wife between you1 and ,i'm not   
such a coon as to trust myself within   

range of her murderers40 ,shortly after 
this we removed1 and thus ended my      
squirrel-keeping1 not1 however1 without 
much regret on my side at least4        
,,vi4 ,,bird ,,trapping4                
,bird-catching has always a fascination 
for boys1 and1 indeed1 in my opinion1 as
 a harmless but most interesting        
pastime1 it may be compared not         
unfavorably with fishing4  8,but10 ,i   
hear some one say1 8is it not cruel to  
catch and imprison or kill our pretty   
feathered friends1 and if so1 is it not 
wrong to teach boys cruelty80 ,i answer 
emphatically 8,no0 to the first of      
these1 and that reply does away with the
 other question4  ,it is not cruel to   
catch the hawk that preys on kindred    
species1 as does the shark or pike1 or  
the beautiful kingfisher that ruthlessly
 slaughters your innocent baby trout1 or
 the weird and ghostly heron1 whose     
insatiable maw will ever cry1 8,give6   
,give60 like the daughters of the       
horseleech1 from every inhabited stream1

 or the bad-mannered crow1 or the       
mischievous jay with his egg-eating     
proclivities4  ,then there are some     
birds1 such as pigeons1 blackbirds1     
thrushes1 redwings and plovers1 and the 
water-fowl1 such as moorhens1 widgeon1  
teal1 ducks1 etc41 which are excellent  
eating1 and who shall say that to kill  
and eat necessarily implies cruelty8    
8,but about the pretty song-birds80 you 
say4 ,well1 now1 what bird is happier in
 captivity than your consequential cock 
bullfinch1 or merry-voiced chaffinch8   
,and are there more annoying birds in   
existence to those who live by the soil8
 ,if you doubt me1 go and ask the       
gardener and hear what he says about    
,chaffy's and ,bully's work on the      
fruitbuds4 ,then remember what present  
pleasure the joyous song of the well-fed
 and warmly-caged linnet or siskin gives
 to all2 but perchance most of all to   
some one whose hours are spent wearily  
on the bed of pain4  ,of course1        
catching birds for the mere sake of     

doing it is wrong1 and pray is not      
fishing liable to the same objection8   
,to go out for the mere purpose of      
bringing home lots of fish1 which are   
afterwards put to no use1 is an abuse of
 an otherwise harmless sport to which   
such great and good men as ,izaak       
,walton1 ,sir ,henry ,wotton1           
,archbishop ,paley1 ,charles ,kingsley1 
,mr4 ,john ,bright1 and many others1    
have been and are devoted4  ,besides1   
the methods ,i shall explain1 except for
 the larger birds of prey--vermin1 in   
fact--need cause no pain to the captured
 bird1 or if it does1 only of the most  
instant character1 which is over when   
the bird is dead or caged4 ,the wildest 
birds require only proper treatment to  
render them happy in confinement1 and of
 this fact ,i was never more forcibly   
convinced than when1 visiting a very    
experienced bird-catcher the other day1 
,i saw a huge tabby tom-cat reposing in 
the cage of a cock gold-finch1 whose    
sweet song must have lulled the cat to  

sleep and a forgetfulness of its fierce 
destroying instincts4 ,hearing it sing1 
,i could not help recalling ,walton's   
pious and beautiful reflection anent the
 nightingale3 8,lord1 what music hast   
,thou provided for ,thy saints in heaven
 when ,thou affordest bad men such music
 on earth60  ,finally1 in defense of the
 bird catcher's art1 let me urge the    
benefit young people derive from an     
intimate knowledge of the natural       
history of birds and their surroundings4
 ,as in fishing the best naturalist in  
fish is invariably the best angler1 so  
whether he be scientific or not1 the    
best ornithologist is1 by virtue of his 
knowledge1 inevitably the most          
successful bird-catcher4 ,nothing can   
conduce to an unaffected love of        
nature--the 8time vesture0 of ,god1     
,carlyle terms it--more readily than    
close observation of the habits1        
instincts1 and intelligences of the     
creatures over which man has been given 
dominion4  ,birds1 the flight of which  

man1 with all his mechanical ingenuity1 
had never yet been able to imitate1 are 
of the most beautiful and wonderful of  
these1 and their capture within the     
limits ,i have laid down is a pastime at
 once innocent1 amusing1 instructive and
 profitable4 ,one word more4 ,be gentle 
boys1 and then presently become         
gentlemen in the true sense of the word1
 and handle each captive1 if it be      
alive1 mercifully1 8as if you loved     
him10 inflicting no unnecessary pain or 
discomfort in any wise4  ,having then in
 some sort justified bird-catching1 if  
indeed this was needed1 let me say how  
,i intend treating the subject in the   
few following chapters4 ,first1 with    
your attention1 ,i will refer to        
bird-catching by net2 secondly1 catching
 birds by bird-lime2 and thirdly1       
trapping birds1 which latter division   
will embrace the various use of the     
springs1 traps1 snares1 gins1 etc41 in  
vogue amongst professional trappers1    
game-keepers and others4 ,as the        

directions will be severely practical1  
any one will be able to succeed from    
them--assuming1 of course1 he has the   
requisite patience4 ,there is one thing1
 however1 to be borne in mind1 that     
is--there is a ,wild ,birds'            
,preservation ,act1 which1 inefficient  
and muddling as it is1 is nevertheless  
the law of the land1 and in it a close  
time is provided1 during which          
bird-catching is illegal4     ,,vii4    
,,bird-,,catching ,,by ,,net4   ,there  
are several sorts of nets used for      
various species of birds1 but for song  
birds the most common is termed the     
clap-net1 of which ,fig4 #a is an       
outline representation4 ,in looking     
carefully at it you will see ,i have    
left one side without netting2 this1    
however1 should of course have a net2   
consider1 therefore1 the two sides as   
similar to that on which the net is     
shown4  ,illustration3 ,fig4 #a4  ,now  
the net from which the drawing was taken
 was somewhat different from the usual  

kind4 ,those ordinarily used are of     
twine1 and netted diagonally with mesh  
three quarter inches4  ,this one1       
however1 if of silk undressed fishing   
line1 and of half-inch mesh1 netted with
 a square mesh instead of diamond-shape 
or diagonal4 ,at each end of it are     
attached jointed poles which fit in each
 other like joints of a fishing-rod2    
these are when put together six feet six
 inches in length1 but the net itself is
 broader to allow of a certain amount of
 bagging4  ,if this were not so the     
birds would be liable to run along      
underneath the net and escape1 whereas  
as now arranged they entangle themselves
 in the soft silk meshes4 ,of course    
silk is not necessary1 but it is best if
 expense is no object4 ,a twine net will
 do very well for boys1 and if they have
 mastered the instructions for netting  
they need have no difficulty in making  
their own4  ,the engraving1 if carefully
 looked into1 explains itself1 but ,i   
will1 to further elucidate the matter1  

tell you how it is laid4 ,first1 bear in
 mind the net in the cut is now placed  
on the ground as it should be laid2 this
 is how to do it4 ,place both nets      
spread out as shown1 roughly on the     
ground 7you can measure their proper    
relative distances afterward71 and drive
 in the farthest peg 7i4 e41 farthest   
from bird-catcher71 to which is attached
 both the 8top0 and 8bottom0 line 7see  
cut74 ,let this peg be firmly driven in1
 for on it the chief strain falls4 ,now 
plant the peg at the end of the jointed 
pole farthest from the bird-catcher     
7,e74 ,the pole is linked to this peg   
either by means of two staples or loops 
of rope attached to both in such a way  
as to act as a hinge4 ,now stretch the  
bottom between the two jointed poles as 
shown1 driving the peg in firmly as     
before4 ,finally plant the peg nearest  
,e1 having stretched the bottom line    
tightly throughout4  ,measure now a     
space of width sufficient to allow the  
two nets when drawn over toward each    

other to fall1 covering their top edges 
about six inches with each other4 ,thus1
 as in the cut1 if the net be six feet  
six inches broad you must allow twelve  
feet six inches between them4 ,having   
done this1 fix the other net in a manner
 precisely similar to its fellow4 ,c on 
the engraving1 as can be seen1 is the   
pull-line1 and it is joined as is shown 
to a line stretching at right angles    
between the four top line ends of the   
jointed poles4 ,the effect of pulling   
this is to bring the nets up and over1  
both falling in the twelve feet six     
inches space1 and thus inclosing        
anything within that space4 ,the birds  
are enticed by the cage-birds in the    
first instance 7see cut71 and finally by
 the play-birds perched on the          
play-stick 7,b74  ,illustration3 ,fig4  
#b4  ,the play-bird is a bird of the    
same kind as those sought to be         
captured1 which is attached by means of 
miniature harness 7to be presently      
shown7 to the play-stick1 and it being  

comparatively free it proves very       
attractive 7see ,fig4 #b74 ,c is the    
bird4 ,this stick is of three parts3 ,a1
 a piece of wood made like ,fig4 #c2 and
 ,b1 a piece of brass tubing beaten flat
 at one end and placed on the stick1    
which may be a hazel or ash twig4 ,a    
hole is punctured through this tube1 and
 a peg passed through it holds it in its
 place1 as well as serving as an axle on
 which its movements work as prompted by
 the play-line1 which passes also       
through ,a1 as shown in ,fig4 #b4       
,illustration3 ,fig4 #c4  ,i have said  
the bird is harnessed and tethered to   
the stick at ,c 7,fig4 #b74 ,this       
harnessing is perfectly painless to the 
little fellow1 and consists of a sort of
 double loop affixed to a swivel 7,fig4 
#f74 ,the head of the bird is passed    
through and the loops are drawn down    
over and round its wings close to the   
body4 ,of course they are drawn and tied
 just tight enough to fit the body1 and 
the swivel is attached2 then a piece of 

fine twine of about a foot and a half in
 length connects the play-bird with its 
stick4 ,the method of using this bird is
 as follows3 ,directly the              
call-birds--which are cock birds in full
 song--have attracted others of their   
species1 the bird-catcher gently pulls  
the play line1 raising and lowering the 
stick4 ,this prompts the play-bird to   
use its wings in a perfectly natural    
manner1 and the consequence is1 the wild
 birds becoming bolder at seeing one of 
their brethren so apparently            
unrestrained1 venture in the forbidden  
space1 and with no fear visible at once 
proceed to exchange civilities4 ,as soon
 as the bird-catcher observes the bird  
well in the reach of the nets1 he pulls 
swiftly and strongly at ,c 7,fig4 #a71  
and the nets close over both the play or
 decoy bird and those he has innocently 
lured to their captivity4 ,now this in  
no case injures them1 and running up1   
the bird-catcher places them in a large 
airy cage opening inwards1 and commonly 

covers them over with a cloth1 lest in  
the first moments of restraint they     
injure themselves against the bars4 ,two
 or more play-birds should be used1 so  
that not one may be over-tired4         
,illustration3 ,fig4 #f4  ,thus you have
 the whole apparatus of 8clap0-netting  
and its use explained4 ,now for a few   
hints as to where to set a net4 ,first1 
do not forget to mark the habits of the 
birds yourself1 and so learn where to   
find them at all seasons4 ,larks and    
linnets are easily found in open plains 
and by water brooks1 goldfinches come in
 autumn to feed off the thistledown1    
starling swarm as winter comes on and   
are met with in all sorts of pastures   
where some growth of underwood or       
deciduous trees are found4 ,for shy     
birds let your full line be quite forty 
yards long2 and a good plan for         
blackbirds1 starlings1 and other wary   
birds is to lay your nets and get behind
 a hedge or other hiding-place4 ,a      
little ingenuity in this way will often 

procure a goodly stroke of success4 ,the
 other morning after a frost ,i caught  
fourteen blackbirds close to a long     
laurel hedge1 hiding myself in a large  
rhododendron4  ,sometimes hawks1 and    
even birds of a non-preying but quite   
different species to your call-bird1 are
 caught in the clap-net4 ,the former    
usually pounces down upon or near the   
poor little play-bird1 and thus the     
biter is bitten4 8,serve him right10 say
 you2 so say ,i4 ,the other birds are   
probably only curious to know what it is
 all about4  ,this kind of net is the   
best for amateurs1 and ,i shall         
therefore not describe that sort which  
is used by professionals for lark and   
other birds at night time1 often1 ,i am 
sorry to say1 when it is illegal1 and   
when partridges and pheasants can be    
taken4 ,kingfishers may be caught by    
stretching a fine net loosely across an 
archway of a stream on which they are   
known to be1 and sparrows may be taken  
in any numbers from old thatches1 barn1 

rick1 etc41 at night in the following   
manner3  ,stretch your net on two cane  
poles and let two people carry it       
upright2 another holds a lantern at     
about the middle of this net on the     
outer side from the barn to be 8netted40
 ,let another1 taking a long pole1      
buffet about the interior under the     
eaves and in the nooks and corners2 the 
birds will then fly out and make for the
 light1 only to be entangled in the net4
 ,beating the hedgerows at night will   
produce the same effect2 and1 let me    
tell you1 sparrow pudding is not to be  
despised4  ,water-birds1 such as        
dabchicks1 moorhens1 and even ducks1 may
 be taken by means of nets stretched    
across ditches and 8drawns0 which they  
frequent4 ,i have especially been       
successful with those little nuisances  
of the fish culturist1 the dabchick1 or 
dapper as they are called in some       
places1 by means of a common dragnet1   
which ,i use for trout catching in      
spawning time1 but as my readers have   

already the facilities ,i have in this  
direction1 ,i need not say more about   
that style of netting4     ,,viii4      
,,bird-,,catching ,,with ,,traps4   ,the
 word 8trap0 in the title of this book  
is intended to be made use of in a      
somewhat wide and also narrow sense4    
,under it ,i shall include what would   
otherwise be called a snare--namely1 the
 8springe10 or 8springle40 ,on the other
 hand ,i shall make use of it in what   
may seem a rather restricted sense1     
inasmuch as that ,i do not intend to    
tell you how to catch birds by means of 
the 8gin10 or steel trap4 ,mind you1    
there are some birds--such as the magpie
 and crow--which it is almost impossible
 to catch in any other manner4 ,for them
 the deadly1 pain-dealing 8gin0 is      
justifiable4 ,for the use of boys1 ,i do
 not1 however1 recommend it in          
bird-catching2 it always maims if it    
does not kill outright1 and thus1 should
 any of you desire to stuff the bird you
 have captured1 its injured plight is   

much against its appearance4  ,the      
springe1 as many of you know1 is a      
horse-hair loop fixed to some immovable 
object1 such as the branch of a tree1   
etc4 ,mr4 ,montagu ,brown1 in his       
8,practical ,taxidermy10 thus describes 
the making of it4 8,here10 he says1 8,i 
have a black horsehair about two feet   
long2 ,i double it1 holding it between  
the right hand finger and thumb1 leaving
 a little loose loop about half an inch 
long2 from this point ,i proceed by an  
overhand motion of the thumb to twist it
 up4 ,on reaching the bottom ,i make a  
small knot to prevent it unrolling1 then
 pushing the knotted end through the eye
 of the loop1 ,i thus form a loose      
noose4 ,i then attach a piece of wire to
 the free end by a twisted loop 7,fig4  
#g74 ,with about half a dozen of these  
coiled in an oval tin box ,i am ready to
 snare any small bird whose haunt ,i may
 discover40  ,illustration3 ,fig4 #g4   
,this springe is varied in a variety of 
ways1 but it is remarkably deadly for   

nearly all birds4 ,the piece of wire is 
of course twisted round a branch or     
other fixed point1 and the noose1 for   
such it is1 is so arranged that the bird
 pecks through it1 and so gets          
8haltered40 ,i always make my springes  
of silkworm gut1 used in fishing1 as    
being stronger and practically          
invisible4  ,ducks1 moorhens1 and       
dabchicks can be caught with nooses or  
springes made of a sufficient number of 
hairs or strands of gut1 and suspended  
to a line fixed across the ditches and  
small streams they are known to         
frequent4 ,a springe mounted as shown in
 ,fig4 #h 7,a in #i7 can also be fixed  
in the ground1 with the noose hanging   
over the probable spot of emergence from
 the water of either of these birds4    
,their exact 8run0 can easily be        
determined by the freshness of the      
excrement4 ,snipes are to be taken by   
simply attaching the springe to a bullet
 and burying this in the soft oose or   
mud where snipe are known to feed or    

run4 ,plovers can be taken in a similar 
way4  ,illustration3 ,fig4 #h4  ,on the 
,continent1 according to ,mr4 ,box1 the 
following is the method of using the    
springe for the capture of thrushes and 
such birds4 ,the springes being made1   
the snarer cuts as many twigs about     
eighteen inches in length as he intends 
hanging springes4 ,there are two methods
 of hanging them--in one the twig is    
bent in the form of figure #f1 the tail 
end running through a slit cut in the   
upper part of the twig4 ,the other way  
is to sharpen a twig at both ends1 and  
insert the points into a stem of        
underwood1 thus forming a bow1 of which 
the stem forms the string below the     
springe1 and hanging from the lower part
 of the bow is placed a small branch    
with three or four berries of the       
mountain-ash2 this is fixed to the bow  
by inserting the stalk into a slit in   
the wood4  ,the bird-catcher is provided
 with a basket1 one compartment of which
 holds his twigs1 bent or straight1     

another his berries2 his springes being 
already attached to the twigs1 he very  
rapidly drives his knife into a lateral 
branch1 and fixes them1 taking care that
 the springe hangs neatly in the middle 
of the bow1 and that the lower part of  
the springe is about three fingers'     
breadth from the bottom4 ,by this       
arrangement the bird1 alighting on the  
lower side of the bow1 and bending his  
neck to reach the berries below1 places 
his head in the noose1 finding himself  
obstructed in his movements1 attempts to
 fly away1 but the treacherous noose    
tightens around his neck1 and he is     
found by the sportsman hanging by the   
neck1 a victim of misplaced confidence4 
,illustration3 ,fig4 #i4  ,another      
adaptation of the springe is shown at   
,fig4 #i4 ,it consists of a wand of     
hazel1 willow1 or any other suitable    
wood1 which is set in the ground firmly4
 ,a short piece of string1 hair1 or gut 
connects it with a cross piece of wood1 
and to this string also several 7two or 

more7 horse-hair or gut springes are    
attached1 set in precisely the same     
manner as shown in ,fig4 #h4 ,a in ,fig4
 #i is a piece of wood which is so cut  
as to present an arm at right angles to 
the perpendicular4 ,this piece of wood  
is driven in the ground and the wand    
bent over2 the cross-piece is now placed
 to the edge of the arm of ,a1 and there
 retained as 8ticklishly0 as possible4  
,on this fine setting everything        
depends4 ,now get some short grass and  
cover up the cross-piece at ,a1 so that 
it cannot be seen1 then arrange your    
hair springes on the surface1 and strew 
some crumbs or grains of rice1 wheat1   
etc4 ,the bird will settle on the       
cross-piece or on ,a1 and peck at the   
crumbs1 etc41 and then will be caught by
 the legs or head4 ,i have had excellent
 results with this4  ,another springle  
shown at ,fig4 #aj is a remarkably good 
one for moorhens1 or1 in fact1 any bird 
having a run1 for the description of    
which quote 8,practical ,trapping10 by  

,moorman 7though1 indeed1 ,i believe he 
got his description from ,doucie's      
8,rural ,sports074 8,the wand1 or       
spring-stick10 he says1 8cross-piece and
 nooses as before1 but instead of the   
simple crutch use a complete bow with   
both ends stuck in the ground4 ,at some 
distance from this drive in a straight  
piece of stick2 next procure a piece of 
stick with a complete fork or crutch at 
one end4 ,to set it draw down the       
spring-stick and pull the cross-piece   
under the bow by the top side farthest  
from the spring-stick4 ,now hold it     
firmly with one hand while you place the
 forked stick with its crutch pressing  
against the opposite upright stick and  
bring its free end against the lower end
 of the cross-piece1 and adjust as      
firmly as you can4 ,finally arrange the 
nooses in such a manner that if one of  
them or the crutched stick is touched   
the latter falls1 and releasing the     
cross-piece the spring-stick flies up   
and the bird with it40 7,a7 indicates   

the cross-piece1 7,b7 the forked stick1 
7,c7 the adjustment4 7,fig4 #aj74       
,illustration3 ,fig4 #aj4     ,,ix4     
,,bird-,,catching ,,with ,,traps1 ,,etc4
   ,yet another of the springle traps   
which ,i have seen used with very great 
success for the capture of flesh-eating 
birds is shown in ,fig4 #aa4 ,a and ,b  
are two sapling oak or ash-trees1       
growing near each other4 ,two holes are 
bored in ,a with a large gimlet2 at ,c1 
in ,b1 a wire loop is attached1 and the 
loop ,e is passed through the upper     
perforation1 as shown4 ,at ,d a piece of
 cord with a round knot in it is passed 
through after ,b is bent toward ,a4 ,f  
is a piece of wood1 the point of which  
is shaped like a blunt cone1 and this is
 sustained on the knot in the position  
shown by the spring of ,b1 being        
similar1 in fact1 to the tongue of a    
wooden mole-trap1 shown in a previous   
number4 ,on this piece of wood is tied a
 fresh lump of meat1 or a pigeon's egg  
may be blown and stuck on4 ,indeed1 any 

bait may be used1 providing it is not   
too heavy4 ,the bird1 of course1 pecks  
strongly at it through the loop ,e1 and 
is instantly caught1 or if it attempts  
to alight1 which is often the case1 the 
noose catches it alive by the legs4 ,my 
drawing is a rough one1 but sufficiently
 explains what is meant4  ,illustration3
 ,fig4 #aa4  ,i have thus given a brief 
sketch of what boys can do in           
bird-catching with no more expense than 
a few cents--if we except the net1 and  
that need not cost much if one is       
disposed to make it4 ,there are many    
other traps which are variously         
successful4 ,there is1 for example1 the 
trap-cage1 which contains on one side a 
decoy bird1 and a very useful one it is1
 and easily procured from a             
bird-fancier4 ,then there is the old    
sieve and string and brick trap1 about  
which no boy needs to be told4 ,i have  
taken twenty and thirty wild fowl in a  
night by baiting with pieces of sheep's 
lights or lungs a large eel-hook4 ,then 

again for kingfishers there is a round  
spring-trap1 which catches them by the  
legs1 and is cruel therefore4 ,herons   
may be taken on a baited hook--the      
bait-fish1 of course4 ,when all is said 
and done1 however1 for general          
bird-catching1 where sport and not      
torture is the means here set forth are 
decidedly the most satisfactory4  ,first
 and foremost1 however1 if you would be 
successful1 take this practical counsel 
to yourself4 ,study the natures and     
habits of the birds2 the droppings and  
footprints will always indicate a       
favorite resort4 ,why1 ,i took a dozen  
birds the other day with half a dozen of
 ,figure #i traps in less than four     
hours by simply setting and resetting in
 the right places1 and then retiring out
 of sight4  ,and not merely out of      
sight1 let me tell the tyro1 but out of 
the range of the sense of smell4 ,never 
get to windward of any birds if you are 
intent on catching them4 ,it is a       
curious fact amongst the lower animals1 

especially those brought under          
domestication1 that they perceive and   
appreciate at its value against         
themselves the presence of man by smell 
as well as sight4 ,creatures of prey1   
from the hatred with which they are     
held1 seem to possess this faculty in   
the highest degree4 ,were it not so1    
indeed1 the struggle for existence with 
them would soon end1 and many at least  
of the species--whether fish1 flesh or  
fowl--would become extinct as the dodo4 
,the bird-lime itself is the next       
consideration under this heading4 ,i do 
not advise any boy to make it himself1  
but if he nevertheless chooses to do so1
 here is a recipe which will produce a  
very good 8lime40 ,half a pint of       
,linseed-oil should be put into an iron 
pot and carefully boiled over the fire  
for four hours1 or1 in fact1 till it    
thickens sufficiently1 stirring it      
repeatedly the while with a stick4 ,the 
oil is smooth when it boils4 ,in order  
to ascertain when it is done take out   

the stick and immerse it in water1 after
 which see if it sticks to the fingers4 
,if it does1 the oil is ready to be     
poured into cold water1 and thereafter  
placed in little flat tin boxes--the    
most convenient receptacles1 as they fit
 in the waistcoat pocket1 and can be    
used as required4  ,birdlime is also    
made from holly bark1 but according to  
the directions given in the             
8,encyclopdia ,britannica0 the process  
is much too troublesome for boys1 and as
 one can buy birdlime enough to stick a 
flock of rooks together for a few pence 
from a professional bird-catcher1 life  
may be considered too short for that    
process at this time4 ,as ,i am some    
distance from a town1 much less a       
professional bird-catcher1 ,i make mine 
as above1 and find it little if any     
inferior to that ,i have been in the    
habit of buying4  ,during winter time1  
when frost and snow cover the earth1    
birdlime is very useful1 for at that    
time the 8clap0 net is of very little   

use4 ,a good plan then is to sweep a    
bare place anywhere near a plantation or
 wooded garden1 or even in the          
farm-yards1 and having anointed a few   
dozen wheat ears with the straw         
attached--or rather1 having anointed the
 straw for about a foot nearest the     
ear--to spread them about in the patch4 
,the birds will attempt to take the ears
 away1 and will so get limed and drop to
 the ground4 ,you must very quickly pick
 them up or you will lose some1 as their
 struggles not infrequently release     
them1 at least partially1 and they      
flutter out of reach4  ,sometimes it    
will be found that a few handfuls of    
oats1 barley or wheat thrown down where 
the limed straws are will be of service 
when they do not seem to care for the   
wheat ears themselves4 ,there is the    
probability of the little fellows coming
 in contact with the ears1 and so       
getting limed4 ,these methods are       
chiefly applicable1 as ,i have said1 to 
cold weather4  ,a different mode of     

procedure may be practiced when the     
weather is very hot4 ,cut1 say1 a       
hundred twigs of some smooth1 thin wood1
 such as withy1 and after liming1 stick 
them down by the side of any rivulet of 
water near woody growths1 and of course 
not near a large tract of water such as 
a lake or river4 ,cover over the stream 
with brush or fern1 so that the birds   
can come only by where your limed twigs 
are placed4 ,i have had remarkable sport
 in this way when the birds have been   
coming to drink during the forenoon and 
afternoon4  ,i tried an experiment for  
rooks with bird-lime some little time   
ago4 ,we all know that in winter1 during
 a thaw1 rooks will frequent pastures in
 great numbers1 especially if cattle be 
present4 ,about fifty yards to the west 
of where ,i am now sitting is a long    
waterside pasture1 and thousands of     
rooks could be seen digging right       
lustily4 ,rooks are too strong and wily 
to be limed in the usual way with       
bristles or twigs1 so ,i made some paper

 cones--funnel-shaped1 you know1 like   
the grocers use for packing sugar--and  
anointed the inside with bird-lime1     
sticking also a few grains of wheat     
round the inner side4 ,the result was   
ridiculous in the extreme4 ,after       
scattering a few grains of corn about   
and placing about a dozen of these limed
 brown-paper funnels in a likely manner1
 ,i retired to a distance1 and with my  
field-glass watched4 ,a flock soon found
 out the scattered grain1 and one after 
the other the cones were inspected1 but 
for some time no one ventured to do     
more4 ,presently1 however1 after the    
loose grain was apparently all eaten1   
one of the wily birds had the temerity  
to poke his head inside a cone4 ,the    
result was much to his evident surprise1
 for the cone stuck tight1 and there he 
was tumbling and attempting to fly with 
a foolscap on which blindfolded him1 and
 which stuck tight enough to allow me   
time to go up and release the poor      
fellow4 ,i did not kill him1 for old    

rook pie is by no means palatable4 ,i   
tried this plan for a heron which       
continually frequented a little pond    
wherein my last year's trout are kept1  
but did not succeed in capturing him1   
though he took both the cone and fish   
used for a bait away somehow4 ,anyhow it
 has most thoroughly frightened my      
gentleman1 for ,i have not seen him     
since4  ,one fine morning some time     
since ,i had a delightful ramble with a 
quaint old character living hereabouts  
who gets his living by mole and bird    
catching4 ,old 8,twiddle0 he is         
familiarly called4 ,one faculty he has1 
and that is a natural love for nature's 
works and a gift of observation which   
has1 perhaps almost unknown to himself1 
forced him into being a natural         
naturalist1 if ,i may so use the        
expression4 ,he can tell any bird on the
 wing by its flight1 he knows all the   
fancies--some of them old1 imagined     
fancies--of bees1 each fly as it flits  
from the water's edge has a name1 though

 far from being that given it by        
science4 ,no matter for that2 a rose by 
any other name would smell as sweet and 
old ,twiddle can tell something of its  
life-history4 ,well1 ,twiddle and ,i    
started on our ramble1 and this was how 
he was equipped4 ,a cage containing a   
beautiful little cock gold-finch duly   
and comfortably furnished with food and 
water1 and protected from the sharp     
though clear air of the bright ,november
 day by means of an old silk            
handkerchief4 ,some dozen or two of     
prepared bristles1 a small box of       
birdlime1 and a 8dummy0 or stuffed      
gold-finch set up on a branch of wood   
with one end sharpened so that the      
latter could be stuck in the ground and 
then the bird retained in any position  
deemed desirable4 ,the bristles were of 
the best shoemaker's kind1 and1 were    
arranged in bunches of three on a stout 
carpet-needle4  ,by the by ,i have      
improved on these by substituting a     
fish-hook straightened 7see ,fig4 #f74  

,to do this take an ordinary eel-hook   
and make it red-hot in the gas or candle
 flame1 holding it the while by means of
 a pair of pliers4 ,it can be readily   
straightened after this1 whether hot or 
cold1 as the heating softens the wire4  
,the utility of the barb lies in the    
fact that the bird cannot by any chance 
fly away with the bristle or lose it for
 you in its struggles1 because of the   
barb's holding power when thrust into   
the branch of a tree1 etc4  ,but to     
return4 ,chatting about this and that we
 journeyed along till after old ,twiddle
 had craned his neck over a ledge to    
regard the other side of a field he     
announced our walk for the present      
ended4 ,on creeping through a hole in   
the hedge this field turned out to be a 
piece of evidently waste water meadow1  
so-called because the crops are1 as it  
were1 manured with water from the       
neighboring river1 and a perfect little 
forest of thistles with their downy     
heads swaying in the breeze indicated   

the probable presence of the goldfinch4 
,some thorn-trees grew in a row down the
 center of the field1 and hither and    
thither the sparrows flitted amongst    
their branches busily chattering the    
news of sparrowdom4 ,but ,i saw no      
finches4 8,twiddle10 said ,i1 8where are
 the goldfinches80 8,ye'll see where    
they be1 sir1 presently10 he answered1  
setting down the caged bird near the    
largest of the thorns4 8,now1 ,billy10  
he added1 speaking to the bird1 8crow   
away10 and with that he removed the     
handkerchief4 ,billy needed no second   
bidding1 and his little throat quivered 
and trembled with the glad song which   
came thrilling forth4  ,twiddle now     
placed the dummy bird just beneath a    
branch of the thorn close to the cage   
and so as to be easily seen1 and all    
around it and round the cage the        
bristles carefully limed were stuck4    
,all was now ready4 ,we retired behind  
the hedge where we could see and not be 
seen4  ,presently the singing was       

answered and we saw a gold-finch hopping
 about amongst the branches of the      
thorn4 ,suddenly it caught sight of the 
dummy bird and with a pleased swiftness 
flew towards it4 ,in another second it  
had touched a limed bristle and was     
rolling over and over hopelessly liming 
its wings with every fresh bristle it   
touched4  ,very carefully the little    
chap was dusted with a little fine earth
 to mitigate the stickiness and placed  
in another cage which the bird-catcher  
always carries for the wild birds4 ,it  
is flat and long and well supplied with 
food and water2 in the upper part of it 
is a hole sufficiently large to admit   
the hand1 and to the two edges of this  
hole is tacked the leg of an old        
stocking1 which falls inwards4 ,then the
 bird can easily be placed inside1 but  
cannot escape1 because the folds of the 
stocking fold together4  ,we caught five
 there and1 as the market value of the  
birds was about twenty-five cents1      
,twiddle1 it must be owned1 had a very  

profitable morning's work4 ,let me      
express a hope that my readers may be so
 successful4         99       99        
99       99       99     ,the ,art of   
,stretching and ,curing ,skins4   ,the  
market value of skins are greatly       
affected by the care used in skinning   
and curing4 ,we take the following from 
,the ,trapper's ,guide1 the best known  
authority on these matters3  ,in drying 
skins it is important that they should  
be stretched tight like a strained drum 
head4 ,this can be done after a fashion 
by simply nailing them flat on a wide   
board or a barn door4 ,but this method1 
besides being impracticable on a large  
scale in the woods 7where most skins    
have to be cured7 is objectionable1     
because it exposes only one side of the 
pelt to the air4 ,the stretchers that   
are generally approved and used by good 
trappers1 are of three kinds1 adapted to
 the skins of different classes of      
animals1 and shall call them the        
board-stretcher1 the bow-stretcher1 and 

the hoop-stretcher1 and will describe   
them1 indicating the different animals  
to which each is adapted4         99    
99       99       99       99  ,,the    
,,board-,,stretcher4--,this contrivance 
is made in the following manner3        
,prepare a board of bass-wood or other  
light material1 two feet three inches   
long1 three inches and a half wide at   
one end1 and two inches and an eighth at
 the other1 and three-eighths of an inch
 thick4 ,chamfer it from the center to  
the sides almost to an edge4 ,round and 
chamfer the small end about an inch up  
on the sides4 ,split this board through 
the center with a knife or saw4         
,finally1 prepare a wedge of the same   
length and thickness1 one inch wide at  
the large end1 and tapering to          
three-eighths of an inch at the small   
end1 to be driven between the halves of 
the board4 ,this is a stretcher suitable
 for a mink or a marten4 ,two larger    
sizes1 with similar proportions1 are    
required for the larger animals4 ,the   

largest size1 suitable for the full     
grown otter or wolf1 should be five feet
 and a half long1 seven inches wide at  
the large end when fully spread by the  
wedge1 and six inches at the small end4 
,an intermediate size is required for   
the fisher1 raccoon1 fox1 and some other
 animals1 the proportions of which can  
be easily figured out4  ,these          
stretchers require that the skin of the 
animal should not be ripped through the 
belly1 but should be stripped off whole4
 ,this is done in the following manner3 
,commence with the knife at the hind    
feet1 and slit down to the vent4 ,cut   
around the vent1 and strip the skin from
 the bone of the tail with the help of  
the thumb nail or a split slick4 ,make  
no other slits in the skin1 except in   
the case of the otter1 whose tail       
requires to be split1 spread1 and tacked
 on to the board4 ,peel the skin from   
the body by drawing it over itself1     
leaving the fur side inward4  ,in this  
condition the skin should be drawn on to

 the split board1 7with the back on one 
side and the belly on the other7 to its 
utmost length1 and fastened with tacks  
or by notches cut in the edge of the    
board1 and then the wedge should be     
driven between the two halves4 ,finally1
 make all fast by a tack at the root of 
the tail1 and another on the opposite   
side4 ,the skin is then stretched to its
 utmost capacity1 as a boot-leg is      
stretched by the shoe-maker's 8tree10   
and it may be hung away in the proper   
place1 by a hole in one end of the      
stretcher1 and left to dry4  ,a         
modification of this kind of stretcher1 
often used in curing the skins of the   
muskrat and other small animals1 is a   
simple board1 without split or wedge1   
three-sixteenths of an inch thick1      
twenty inches long1 six inches wide at  
the large end1 and tapering to five and 
a half inches at six inches from the    
small end1 chamfered and rounded as in  
the other cases4 ,the animal should be  
skinned as before directed1 and the skin

 drawn tightly on to the board and      
fastened with about four tacks4 ,sets of
 these boards1 sufficient for a muskrat 
campaign1 can easily be made and        
transported4 ,they are very light and   
take up but little room in packing1     
thirty-two of them making but six inches
 in thickness4         99       99      
99       99       99  ,,the ,,bow       
,,stretcher4--,the most common way of   
treating the muskrat is to cut off its  
feet with a hatchet1 and rip with a     
knife from between the two teeth in the 
lower jaw1 down the belly1 about two    
inches below where the fore-legs come   
out4 ,then the skin is started by       
cutting around the lips1 eyes1 and ears1
 and is stripped over the body with the 
fur side inward4 ,finally a stick of    
birch1 water-beech1 ironwood1 hickory1  
or elm1 an inch in diameter at the butt1
 and three feet and a half long1 is bent
 into the shape of an oxbow and shoved  
into the skin1 which is drawn tight1 and
 fastened by splitting down a sliver in 

the bow and drawing the skin of the lip 
into it4  ,this method is too common to 
be easily abolished1 and is tolerable   
when circumstances make it necessary2   
but the former method of stretching by a
 tapering board1 in the case of muskrats
 as well as other small animals1 is much
 the best4 ,skins treated in that way   
keep their proper shape1 and pack better
 than those stretched on bows1 and in   
the long run boards are more economical 
than bows1 as a set of them can be used 
many times1 and will last several years1
 whereas bows are seldom used more than 
once1 being generally broken in taking  
out4         99       99       99       
99       99  ,,the ,,hoop               
,,stretcher4--,the skins of large       
animals1 such as the beaver and the     
bear1 are best dried by spreading them1 
at full size1 in a hoop4 ,for this      
purpose1 a stick of hickory or other    
flexible wood should be cut1 long enough
 to entirely surround the skin when     
bent4 7,if a single stick long enough is

 not at hand1 two smaller ones can be   
spliced together47 ,the ends should be  
brought around1 lapped1 and tied with a 
string or a withe of bark4 ,the skin    
should be taken from the animal by      
ripping from the lower front teeth to   
the vent1 and peeling around the lips1  
eyes1 and ears1 but without ripping up  
the legs4 ,it should then be placed     
inside the hoop and fastened at opposite
 sides1 with twine or bark1 till all    
loose parts are taken up1 and the whole 
stretched so that it is nearly round and
 as tight as a drum-head4 ,when it is   
dry it may be taken from the hoop1 and  
is ready for packing and transportation4
  ,this is the proper method of treating
 the skin of the deer4 ,some prefer it  
for the wolf and raccoon4 ,in many cases
 the trapper may take his choice between
 the hoop and the board method4 ,one or 
the other methods will be found         
satisfactory for curing all kinds of    
skins4     ,dressing and ,tanning ,skins
 and ,furs4          99       99        

99       99       99  ,,dressing ,,skins
 ,,with ,,fur ,,wool ,,on4--,the        
cheapest and readiest as well as the    
best method of dressing skins for use   
with the hair or wool on1 is to first   
scrape off all the fat with a knife     
rather blunt on the edge1 so as not to  
cut holes into the hide1 upon a round   
smooth log4 ,the log for convenience    
sake should have a couple of legs in one
 end1 like a tressle2 the other end     
should rest upon the ground4  ,after the
 fat is well cleaned off1 take the      
brains of the animal1 or the brains of  
any other recently killed1 and work them
 thoroughly into the hide4 ,this renders
 the hide pliable4 ,then to preserve    
from the ravages of insects scatter on  
it some powdered alum and a little      
saltpeter4 ,if the hair side has become 
greasy1 a little weak lye will take it  
out4 ,sheep-skins may be dressed in the 
same way1 though the wool should be     
cleaned with soapsuds before using the  
brains4 ,another way1 but more          

expensive1 is to use a paste made of the
 yolk of eggs and whiting instead of    
brains1 working it in the same way1     
letting it dry and brushing off the     
whiting4 ,then add the powdered alum as 
before4 ,deer-skins and even small      
calf-skins are often tawed as the       
process is called with the hair on for  
garments4 ,if it is desired to give the 
deer-skin a yellow color1 yellow ocher  
or chrome yellow may be used in         
combination with the brains or yolks of 
eggs and afterwards brushed off4  ,if it
 is simply desired to preserve skins    
until they are sold1 it is only         
necessary to dry them thoroughly4 ,if   
the weather should be damp and warm1    
salt the flesh side slightly with fine  
salt4         99       99       99      
99       99  ,,without ,,the ,,wool ,,or
 ,,hair4--,sheep-skin1 deer-skin1       
dog-skin1 calf-skin1 c41 for gloves1 c41
 are also tawed1 but the hair must be   
taken off4 ,the skins are first soaked  
in warm water1 scraped on the flesh side

 to get off fat1 and hung in a warm room
 until they begin to give a slight smell
 of hartshorn4 ,the wool or fur then    
comes off rapidly4 ,the hair side should
 now be thoroughly scraped against the  
hair4 ,the skin is next soaked two or   
three weeks in weak lime water1 changing
 the water two or three times4 ,then    
they are brought out again1 scraped     
smooth and trimmed4 ,then rinsed in     
clean water1 then soaked in wheat bran  
and water for two or three weeks4 ,after
 this they are well stirred around in   
pickle of alum1 salt and water4 ,then   
they are thrown again into the bran and 
water for two or three days4 ,then      
stretched and dried somewhat in a warm  
room4 ,after this they are soaked in    
warm water and then worked or trodden on
 in a trough or pail filled with yolk of
 eggs1 salt1 alum1 flour and water1     
beaten to a froth4 ,they are finally    
stretched and dried in an airy room1 and
 last of all smoothed with a warm       
smoothing iron4 ,this makes the         

beautiful leather we see in gloves1     
military trimmings1 c4 ,the proportions 
for the egg paste are as follows3       
#c-a_/b pounds salt1 #h pounds alum1 #ba
 pounds wheat flour and yolks of nine   
dozen eggs4 ,make a paste with water1   
dissolving first the alum and salt4 ,a  
little of this paste is used as wanted  
with a great deal of water4  ,chamois   
skin and deer skins not wanted for      
gloves are similarly treated up to the  
point of treating with egg paste4       
,instead of using this process1 they are
 oiled on the hair side with very clean 
animal oil1 rolled into balls and thrown
 into the trough of a fulling mill1 well
 beaten two or three hours1 aired1      
re-oiled1 beaten again and the process  
repeated a third time4 ,they are then   
put into a warm room until they begin to
 give out a decided smell1 then scoured 
in weak lye to take out superfluous     
grease4 ,here the intention is merely to
 get a thick felt-like skin of good     
color1 a nicely grained surface is not  

required as in gloves4 ,the skins are   
finally rinsed1 wrung out1 stretched and
 dried1 and when nearly dry1 slightly   
rub with a smooth1 hard1 round stick4   
,these are the fine processes4 ,a dried 
skin oiled so as to become smooth and   
pliable will retain the hair or wool a  
considerable time4  ,or it may be made  
more durable where the color of the     
flesh side is no object by scraping1    
washing in soapsuds and then putting    
directly into the tan pit4 ,for ordinary
 purposes rabbit1 squirrel and other    
small skins can be efficiently preserved
 with the hair by the application of    
powdered alum and fine salt1 put on them
 when fresh1 or if not fresh by         
dampening them first4 ,squirrel skins   
when wanted without the hair will tan   
very well in wheat bran tea1 the fat and
 hair having been previously removed by 
soaking in lime-water and scraping4 ,old
 tea leaves afford tannin enough for    
small skins1 but they give a color not  
nearly so pleasant as bran4 ,almost any 

of the barks afford tannin enough for   
small skins--willow1 pine1 poplar1      
hemlock of course1 sumach1 etc4         
,coloring or ,dyeing ,skins and ,furs4  
,furs are dyed by dealers1 to suit some 
fashion1 to conceal defects or to pass  
off inferior furs for better ones4  ,the
 best way is to brush the dye over the  
fur with a good sponge1 brushing with   
the hair4 ,as a matter of course1 you   
can only dye them of a darker color than
 they are1 and retain the handsome      
lustrous look peculiar to fur4 ,they may
 be bleached1 but the process leaves the
 fur looking like coarse flax or even   
hemp4         99       99       99      
99       99  ,,blue4--,sulphate of      
indigo1 7soluble indigo1 sold by all    
druggists17 is the readiest and best to 
get a blue with4 ,furs are never dyed   
blue for sale1 for that would be        
spoiling a white fur1 but sheep-skins   
are4 ,the skin should be dipped several 
times in a bath of hot alum water1      
allowed to drain1 and then dipped into a

 solution of sulphate of indigo and     
water1 with a few drops of sulphuric    
acid added1 this gives a pale blue4     
,aniline blue is very fine1 and dyeing  
with it is very simple4 ,a solution of  
the color in water is made1 a hot       
solution1 and the skin put in all at    
once1 7if a part of the skin is put in  
first that part will be darkest1 so     
quick is the absorption of these        
colors74 ,fancy sheep-skin mats are     
colored blue1 red1 green1 and yellow1   
and have a ready sale when they are new4
         99       99       99       99  
99  ,,black4--,the best black is        
obtained by first dyeing the skin a     
blue4 ,then boil one-quarter pound gall 
nuts1 powdered1 and one and one-quarter 
ounces of logwood1 in three gallons of  
water4 ,if the flesh side is to be blue1
 while the fur or wool is another1 this 
decoction must be sponged on4  ,get the 
wool or hair thoroughly impregnated with
 this and then add one-quarter pound    
copperas to the dye and go over the fur 

or wool many times with the sponge4 ,the
 process above given will answer without
 previous blueing1 but the black is not 
so brilliant4 ,another 8home-made0 dye  
which will answer for dyeing clothes a  
black1 as well as sheep-skins1 is this3 
,just make a bath of eight ounces of    
bichromate of potash1 six ounces alum1  
four ounces fustic2 boil in water enough
 to cover five pounds of yarn1 cloth or 
a single sheep-skin4 ,make another bath 
of four pounds of logwood1 four ounces  
each bar wood and fustic1 or eight      
ounces fustic2 same amount of boiling   
water as last4 ,stir the goods well     
around in the first bath1 keeping the   
water hot for an hour2 then work it in  
the second bath the same length of time4
 ,take them and wring them2 then1 adding
 one-quarter pound of copperas to the   
last bath1 put the goods in again and   
give them a good stirring4 ,this is a   
good black dye for wool goods or furs1  
but not for silks or cottons4         99
       99       99       99       99    

,,red4--,furs of course are never dyed  
red1 at least in this country4          
,sheep-skins might be dyed with madder  
or cochineal1 but in the former case1   
the skin would of necessity be boiled   
with the dye1 as that is necessary in   
using madder4 ,cochineal would be       
expensive and require much working1     
while as brilliant reds and purples may 
be got from the aniline colors1         
dissolved in moderately warm water1 the 
skum taken off1 and skin dipped4 ,these 
colors are the cheapest1 too1 as they go
 very far4 ,but always have the wool as 
free from grease as possible by working 
in weak hot lye or hot soapsuds4        
99       99       99       99       99  
,,yellow4--,can be got on sheep-skins   
with black oak bark1 7quercitron bark7  
old fustic1 annotta1 and ,persian 7also 
called ,french7 berries4 ,the skin      
should be previously dipped into a hot  
bath of alum1 cream of tartar or spirit 
of tin1 about two ounces to the gallon4 
,about one-half pound of annotta1 or a  

pound of the other articles1 are enough 
for a single skin4 ,if you wish to use  
fustic1 be particular to ask for old    
fustic1 as what is known in the trade as
 young fustic1 is a different article   
and gives a different color4 ,there is  
also now an aniline yellow which works  
like the other colors4         99       
99       99       99       99           
,,green4--,dye first blue as explained  
above1 then pass through a yellow dye1  
until you get the shade required4 ,an   
alum bath1 cream of tartar1 or spirits  
of tin1 as above1 must be used before   
the blue is given4         99       99  
99       99       99  ,,preservation    
,,of ,,furs4--,while in use furs should 
be occasionally combed4 ,when not       
wanted1 dry them first1 then let them   
cool1 and mix among them bitter apples  
from the druggists1 in small muslin     
bags1 sewing them in several folds of   
linen1 carefully turned in at the edges 
and kept from damp4 ,camphor or pepper  
used in the same manner1 will have a    

similar effect4 ,well cleaned furs are  
much less liable to be attacked by      
moths1 than those affording rich repasts
 of dried flesh1 though no furs are     
absolutely safe without great           
watchfulness4 ,wrapping well in good    
brown paper and keeping in a tight paper
 box1 are all helps to the preservation 
of furs4 ,sunshine and fresh air kill   
the fur and wool moth grub4 ,therefore  
taking out the furs occasionally and    
airing1 sunning and beating them is     
necessary4         99       99       99 
99       99  ,,to ,,tan ,,muskrat       
,,skins ,,with ,,the ,,fur ,,on4--,first
 for soaking1 to #aj gallons of cold    
soft water add #h parts of wheat bran1  
#a_/b pint of old soap1 #a ounce of     
borax2 by adding #b ounces of sulphuric 
acid1 the soaking may be done in        
one-half the time4 ,if the hides have   
not been salted1 add a pint of salt4    
,green hides should not be soaked more  
than #h or #aj hours4 ,dry ones should  
soak till very soft4  ,for tan liquor1  

to ten gallons warm soft water add #a_/b
 bushel bran2 stir well and let stand in
 a warm room till it ferments4 ,then add
 slowly #b-a_/b pounds sulphuric acid2  
stir all the while4 ,muskrat hides      
should remain in about #d hours4 ,then  
take out and rub with a fleshing        
knife--an old chopping knife with the   
edge taken off will do4 ,then work it   
over a beam until entirely dry4         
,some ,additional ,valuable             
,miscellaneous ,information ,useful     
,alike to the ,hunter1 ,trapper and     
,angler4          99       99       99  
99       99  ,,hints ,,to               
,,trappers4--,the skins of animals      
trapped are always valued higher than   
those shot1 as shot not only make holes1
 but frequently plow along the skin1    
making furrows1 as well as shaving off  
the fur4 ,to realize the utmost for     
skins they must be taken care of1 and   
also cleaned and prepared properly4     
,newhouse gives these general rules     
derived from experience4  #a4 ,be       

careful to visit your traps often       
enough1 so that the skin will not have  
time to get tainted4  #b4 ,as soon as   
possible after the animal is dead and   
dry1 attend to the skinning and curing4 
#c4 ,scrape off all superfluous flesh   
and fat1 and be careful not to go so    
deep as to cut the fiber of the skin4   
#d4 ,never dry a skin by the fire or in 
the sun1 but in a cool1 shady place1    
sheltered from rain4 ,if you use a barn 
door for a stretcher 7as boys sometimes 
do71 nail the skin on the inside of the 
door4  #e4 ,never use preparations of   
any kind in curing skins1 nor even wash 
them in water1 but simply stretch and   
dry them as they are taken from the     
animal4         99       99       99    
99       99  ,,to ,,dress ,,beaver      
,,skins4--,you must rip the skin the    
same as you would a sheep4 ,stretch it  
in all ways as much as possible2 then it
 is to be dressed with equal parts of   
rock salt and alum dissolved in water1  
and made about as thick as cream1 by    

stirring in coarse flour4 ,this should  
be spread on nearly half an inch thick1 
and scraped off when dry1 and repeated  
if one time is not enough4 ,this same   
process of dressing applies likewise to 
otter skins4         99       99        
99       99       99  ,,to ,,trap       
,,quail4--,a quail trap may be any kind 
of coop1 supported by a figure #d4 ,the 
spindle of the figure must either be so 
made as to hold grain1 or1 what is      
better1 some grains of wheat or         
buckwheat are strung over a strong      
thread with the aid of a needle1 and    
tied to the spindle4 ,quails and prairie
 hens easily enter a trap when the      
ground is covered with snow4 ,at other  
times it is rather difficult to catch   
them4         99       99       99      
99       99  ,,to ,,trap ,,wild         
,,turkey4--,a wild turkey trap is made  
by first digging a ditch2 then over one 
end is built a rude structure of logs1  
covered at the top4  ,the structure     
should not be tight1 but1 of course1    

sufficiently close not to let the birds 
through4 ,indian corn is scattered about
 and in the ditch1 and inside of the    
pen4 ,the turkeys follow up corn in the 
ditch1 and emerge from it on the inside4
 ,once there1 the silly birds never     
think of descending into the ditch1 but 
walk round and round the pen1 looking   
through the chinks of the logs for      
escape that way4 ,to make all sure1 the 
ditch should end about the centre of the
 pen1 and a bridge of sticks1 grass and 
earth should be built over the ditch1   
just inside of the pen1 and close to the
 logs2 otherwise1 in going around the   
bird might step inside the ditch1 and   
once there1 it would follow the light   
and thereby reach the outside of the    
pen4         99       99       99       
99       99  ,,to ,,catch ,,muskrats    
,,without ,,traps4--,it is a mystery to 
many how muskrats1 beavers1 and other   
animals1 are able to remain so long     
under water1 apparently without         
breathing1 especially in winter4 ,the   

way they manage is1 they take in a good 
breath at starting1 and then remain     
under water as long as possible4 ,then  
they rise up to the ice and breathe out 
the air in their lungs1 which remains in
 a bubble against the lower part of the 
ice4  ,the water near the ice is highly 
charged with oxygen1 which it readily   
imparts to the air breathed out4 ,after 
a time1 this air is taken back in the   
lungs1 and the animal again goes under  
the water1 repeating this process from  
time to time4 ,in this way they can     
travel almost any distance1 and live    
almost any length of time under the ice4
 ,the hunter takes advantage of this    
habit of the muskrat in the following   
manner4 ,when the marshes and ponds     
where the muskrat abounds are first     
frozen over1 and the ice is thin and    
clear1 on striking into their houses    
with his hatchet1 for the purpose of    
setting his trap1 he frequently sees a  
whole family plunge into the water and  
swim away under the ice4 ,following one 

for some distance1 he sees him come up  
to recover his breath1 in the manner    
above described4 ,after the animal has  
breathed against the ice1 and before he 
has time to take his bubble in again1   
the hunter strikes with his hatchet     
directly over him1 and drives him away  
from his breath4 ,in this case he drowns
 in swimming a few rods1 and the hunter1
 cutting a hole in the ice1 takes him   
out4         99       99       99       
99       99  ,,bleaching ,,wool ,,on    
,,tanned ,,pelts4--,put an old pot or   
other iron vessel in the bottom of a    
hogshead1 and in the vessel a roll of   
brimstone4 ,fasten near the top a stick 
or two to place the skin on4 ,the wool  
must be wet when hung on the sticks4    
,heat an old iron red hot1 or take live 
coals to start the brimstone4 ,when it  
is burning briskly1 cover the hogshead  
tight to keep the smoke in4 ,if not     
white enough1 repeat the process4  ,the 
,esquimaux mode of tanning is very      
simple1 and the material employed the   

cheapest and cost accessible of any used
 in the art1 viz3 the urine of man and  
beast4 ,the skins are prepared in the   
fur1 and softened and tanned in urine1  
which is usually kept in tubs in the    
porches of their huts1 for use in       
dressing deer1 seal and other skins4    
,they show great skill in the           
preparation of whale1 seal and deer     
skins1 and these1 on the whole1 are     
equal to the best oil skins made in     
,england4 ,it imparts to them firmness  
and durability1 and makes them          
waterproof4 ,the boots worn by the      
,esquimaux are generally made from seal 
or walrus hides1 and resist the         
encroachments of water4         99      
99       99       99       99  ,,hawk   
,,and ,,owl ,,traps4--,to catch hawks or
 owls1 take a pole #bj feet long1 to be 
set a short distance from the house or  
barn or on the poultry house4 ,split the
 top so as to admit the base of a common
 steel trap1 which should be made fast4 
,when both trap and pole are set you may

 be sure of game of some kind4 ,these   
birds naturally light on high objects1  
such as dead branches of trees or tops  
of stacks1 and one should use judgment  
about the place where he puts the traps4
 ,an open field near the chicken yard is
 probably the best4         99       99 
99       99       99  ,,domestic        
,,manufacture ,,of ,,furs4--,the skins  
of raccoons1 minks1 muskrats1 rabbits1  
foxes1 deer1 cats1 dogs1 woodchucks and 
skunks are all valuable4 ,handsome robes
 may be made from the skins of the last 
two animals1 and the writer has seen fur
 coats made from the skins of           
woodchucks1 well tanned1 dyed and       
trimmed1 which were elegant as well as  
comfortable1 and no one but a           
connoisseur would be able to guess their
 origin4 ,of the finer and nicer furs1  
beautiful collars1 muffs1 cuffs1 caps1  
gloves and trimmings may be made with a 
little ingenuity and perseverance2 and  
who would not feel a greater            
satisfaction in wearing a nice article1 

from the fact that it was something of  
their own manufacture--a product of     
their own taste and genius8  ,very      
handsome floor-mats are made by tanning 
sheep pelts and dyeing them some bright 
color1 which is done with very little   
trouble2 the art of dyeing is now so    
familiar to almost every household4     
,furs may be dyed as easily as woolen   
goods1 notwithstanding the impression   
that it is an art known only to the     
trade4 ,any dye that will color woolens 
will also dye furs1 only care must be   
taken not to have the dye too hot1 or   
the texture of the skin will be injured4
  ,the mode of tanning usually followed 
by city furriers is to rub the skins    
well with rancid butter1 then tread them
 thoroughly in a tub or vat1 after which
 a large quantity of sawdust is mixed   
with them1 and the process of treading  
continued until all the grease is       
absorbed1 when they are finished off by 
beating1 working and rubbing with chalk 
and potter's clay1 whipping and         

brushing4 ,an old trapper practiced this
 method with small skins1 first washing 
with a suds of soap and sal-soda to free
 them from grease1 then rinsing in clear
 water to cleanse them from the suds1   
then rubbing as dry as possible1 after  
which they were put in a mixture of two 
ounces of salt to a quart of water1     
added to three quarts of milk or        
bran-water containing one ounce of best 
sulphuric acid1 and stirred briskly for 
forty or fifty minutes2 from this they  
are taken dripping into a strong        
solution of sal-soda and stirred till   
they will no longer foam2 they are then 
hung to dry1 when they are very soft and
 pliable4  ,a very good and simple      
process in use among farmers is to      
sprinkle the flesh side1 after scraping 
it well1 with equal parts of pulverized 
alum and salt1 or washing it well with a
 strong solution of the same1 then      
folding the flesh side together and     
rolling it compactly1 in which state it 
should remain for eight or ten days2    

then it is opened1 sprinkled with bran  
or sawdust to absorb the moisture1 and  
rolled up again1 and after remaining    
twenty-four hours1 the process is       
completed by a thorough rubbing and     
manipulation1 on which the pliability   
depends4 ,skins1 when taken off1 should 
be freed from grease or flesh by        
thorough scraping1 when they may be     
dried1 and left to await the leisure of 
the owner4 ,previous to tanning they    
must be well soaked and wrung dry4  ,it 
is no extravagance to assert that every 
farmer's family may furnish their own   
fur collars1 gloves1 robes1 and other   
articles of dress and ornament1 with    
trifling expense1 from the resources    
within their own reach2 but from want of
 more knowledge on the subject valuable 
skins are wasted or disposed of for a   
mere fraction of their real value1 and  
articles of apparel that should be made 
from them are bought at extravagant     
prices of fur dealers4         99       
99       99       99       99  ,,indian 

,,mode ,,of ,,tanning ,,buffalo         
,,skins4--,the hard and incessant labor 
that is necessary to properly 8,indian  
tan0 a robe is not easily to realize    
unless one may see the work go on day by
 day from the first step1 which is to   
spread out the pelt or undressed hide   
upon the ground1 where it is pinned fast
 by means of wooden pins driven through 
little cuts in the edge of the robe into
 the earth4 ,the flesh side of the robe1
 being uppermost1 is then worked over by
 two and sometimes three squaws4 ,the   
tools used are very rude1 some being    
simply provided with sharp stones or    
buffalo bones4 ,others1 more wealthy1   
have a something that much resembles a  
drawing-knife or shave of the cooper4   
,the work in hand is to free the hide   
from every particle of flesh1 and to    
reduce the thickness of the robe nearly 
one half1 and sometimes even more4      
,this fleshing1 as it is termed1 having 
been thoroughly accomplished1 the hide  
is thoroughly moistened with water in   

which the buffalo brains have been      
steeped4 ,for ten days the hide is kept 
damp with this brain water4 ,once each  
day the hide is taken up and every      
portion of it rubbed and re-rubbed by   
the squaws1 who do not have recourse to 
anything like a rubbing-board1 but use  
their hands until it would seem as if   
the skin would soon be worn off4 ,there 
seems to be no definite rule as to the  
length of time which the robe shall     
occupy in curing4 ,the squaw labors     
until the hide becomes a robe1 which may
 require the work of one week or two1   
sometimes even more2 but ,i think that  
ten days may be considered as the       
average time which it takes to properly 
cure a robe4         99       99        
99       99       99  ,,to ,,dress      
,,deer ,,skins4--,put the skin into the 
liquid while warm1 viz3 eight quarts    
rain water to one pint soft soap4 ,warm 
it4 ,then punch the hide1 or work it    
with a soft stick1 and let it lay one   
day4 ,it is then to be taken out and    

wrung--rolled between two logs--or even 
a wringing machine will be better4 ,then
 stretch it until it is dry1 in the sun 
is best1 or by a hot fire4 ,then oil it 
thoroughly with any oil convenient4  ,it
 should then be treated to the same bath
 of suds 7heated quite warm71 and lay   
another day4 ,then pull it out and dry  
as before4 ,any oil will do1 but good   
fresh butter is better than anything    
else4 ,when the skin is dry rub it with 
ochre1 which will give it a splendid    
yellow color4         99       99       
99       99       99  ,,tanning ,,and   
,,buffing ,,for ,,deer ,,skin           
,,gloves4--,for each skin take a bucket 
of water and put into it #a quart of    
lime2 let the skin or skins lay in from 
#c to #d days2 then rinse in clean      
water1 hair and grain2 then soak them in
 cold water to get out the glue2 now    
scour or pound in good soap suds for    
half an hour2 after which take white    
vitriol1 alum and salt1 one tablespoon  
of each to a skin2 this will be         

dissolved in sufficient water to cover  
the skin and remain in it for #bd hours2
 wring out as dry as convenient1 and    
spread on with a brush #a_/b pint of    
currier's oil1 and hang in the sun about
 two days2 after which you will scour   
out the oil with soap suds1 and hang out
 again until perfectly dry2 then pull   
and work them until they are soft2 and  
if a reasonable time does not make them 
soft1 scour out in suds again as before1
 until complete4  ,the oil may be saved 
by pouring or taking it from the top of 
the suds1 if left standing a short time4
 ,the buff color is given by spreading  
yellow ochre evenly over the surface of 
the skin1 when finished1 rubbing it in  
well with a brush4         99       99  
99       99       99  ,,dyeing ,,for    
,,buckskin1 7,buff47--#e parts of       
whiting to #b parts of ochre 7yellow71  
and mix them with water to a paste2 make
 into cakes and dry4 ,when a dressed    
skin is dry1 rub one of the balls over  
the surface2 rub the powder in4 ,take a 

piece of sand-paper and raise a nap on  
the leather by going over it4           
7,black47--,take clear logwood2 after it
 is dry use copperas water to blacken   
it4 ,be careful and not use too much4   
7,dark ,brown47--#e pounds of oak bark2 
#d pounds of fustic2 #ad ounces of      
logwood4 ,use alum water 7strong7 to    
make it strike in4 7,drab47--,mix blue  
clay with soft soap2 add blue vitriol to
 shade the color4 ,it can be made any   
shade you wish4         99       99     
99       99       99  ,,dyeing ,,for    
,,morocco ,,and ,,sheep ,,leather4--,the
 following colors may be imparted to    
leather1 according to the various uses  
for which it is intended4               
7,blue47--,blue is given by steeping the
 subject a day in urine and indigo1 then
 boiling it with alum2 or it may be     
given by tempering the indigo with red  
wine1 and washing the skins therewith4  
7,another47--,boil elderberries or dwarf
 elder1 then smear and wash the skins   
therewith and wring them out2 then boil 

the elderberries as before in a solution
 of alum water1 and wet the skins in the
 same manner once or twice2 dry them1   
and they will be very blue4             
7,red47--,red is given by washing the   
skin and laying them two hours in galls1
 then wringing them out1 dipping them in
 a liquor made with ligustrum1 alum and 
verdigris2 in water1 and lastly in a dye
 made of ,brazil wood boiled with lye4  
7,purple47--,purple is given by wetting 
the skins with a solution of roche alum 
in warm water1 and when dry1 again      
rubbing them with the hand with a       
decoction of logwood in cold water4     
7,green47--,green is given by smearing  
the skin with sap green and alum water1 
boiled4 7,dark ,green47--,dark green is 
given with steel filings and sal        
ammoniac1 steeped in urine till soft1   
then smeared over the skin1 which is to 
be dried in the shade4                  
7,yellow47--,yellow is given by smearing
 the skin over with aloes and linseed   
oil1 dissolved and strained1 or by      

infusing it in weld4 7,light            
,orange47--,orange color is given by    
smearing it with fustic berries boiled  
in alum water1 or1 for a deep orange1   
with turmeric4 7,sky color47--,sky color
 is given with indigo steeped in boiling
 water1 and the next morning warmed and 
smeared over the skin4         99       
99       99       99       99           
,,operation ,,of ,,tanning4--,the first 
operation is to soak the hide1 as no    
hide can be properly tanned unless it   
has been soaked and broken on a fleshing
 beam4 ,if the hide has not been salted 
add a little salt and soak it in soft   
water4 ,in order to be thoroughly       
soaked1 green hides should remain in    
this liquor from #i to #ab days2 of     
coarse the lime varies with the         
thickness of the hide4 ,the following   
liquor is used to remove hair or wool1  
viz3 #aj gallons cold water 7soft71 #h  
quarts slacked lime1 and same quantity  
of wood ashes4 ,soak until the hair or  
wool will pull off easily4  ,as it      

frequently happens it is desirable to   
cure the hide and keep the hair clean1  
the following paste should be made1 viz3
 equal parts of lime and hard-wood      
ashes1 7lime should be slacked17 and    
made into a paste with soft water4 ,this
 should be spread on the flesh side of  
the hide and the skin rolled up1 flesh  
side in1 and placed in a tub1 just      
covering it with water4 ,it should      
remain #aj days1 or until the hair will 
pull out easily1 then scrape off with a 
knife4         99       99       99     
99       99  ,,to ,,deoderize ,,skunk   
,,skins4--,to deoderize skunk skins or  
articles for clothing scented1 hold them
 over a fire of red cedar boughs1 and   
sprinkle with chloride of lime2 or wrap 
them in green hemlock boughs when they  
are to be had1 and in #bd hours they    
will be cleansed4         99       99   
99       99       99  ,,how ,,to ,,shoot
 ,,snipe4--,to the beginner no bird is  
more puzzling1 and1 therefore1 more     
difficult to shoot4 ,its flight is most 

uncertain1 most variable1 and most      
irregular--rising at one time as evenly 
as a lark1 and flying close to the      
ground with scarcely the slightest      
deviation from a straight line2 at      
another1 springing from the ground as if
 fired from a gun1 and then flying in a 
zig-zag course to the right or left1    
and1 indeed1 in every direction2 and    
sometimes1 again1 rising to a great     
height1 and then going straight away    
with the rapidity of lightning4 ,and    
yet1 with all these apparent            
difficulties1 when the knack is once    
acquired1 it becomes comparatively      
easy--indeed1 is reduced almost to a    
certainty4 ,the great art in this kind  
of shooting is coolness1 and to avoid   
too much hurry4 ,and1 in this1 as in    
every other kind of shooting1 the first 
sight is the best2 the moment you are   
8well on0 your bird1 the trigger should 
be pulled4 ,in cross shots1 fire well   
before your bird4 ,contrary to the usual
 practice1 you should always walk down  

wind2 the reason for this is that snipe 
always rise against it4 ,sometimes snipe
 are very wild1 and at others will lie  
until they are almost trodden upon4 ,if 
there be much wind1 your best chance is 
to 8down with them0 as soon as they rise
 from the ground1 or you have little    
hope of getting a bag4         99       
99       99       99       99           
,,preseveratives ,,for ,,skins4--,the   
best material for the preseveration of  
skins of animals consists in powdered   
arsenious acid1 or the common arsenic of
 the shops4 ,this may be used in two    
ways3 either applied in dry powder on   
the moist skin1 or1 still better1 mixed 
with alcohol or water to the consistency
 of molasses1 and put on with a brush4  
,some camphor may be added to the       
alcoholic solution1 and a little        
strychnine will undoubtedly increase its
 efficacy4 ,there are no satisfactory   
substitutes for arsenic1 but1 in its    
entire absence1 corrosive sublimate1    
camphor1 alum1 etc41 may be employed4   

,many persons prefer the arsenical soap 
to the pure arsenic4 ,this is composed  
of the following ingredients1 arsenic1  
#a ounce2 white soap1 #a ounce2         
carbonate of potash1 #a dram2 water1 #f 
drams2 camphor1 #b drams4 ,cut the soap 
into thin slices1 and melt over a slow  
fire with the water1 stirring it        
continually2 when dissolved1 remove from
 the fire1 and add the potash and       
arsenic by degrees2 dissolve the camphor
 in a little alcohol1 and when the      
mixture is nearly cold1 stir it in4     
,the proper materials for stuffing out  
skins will depend much upon the size of 
the animal4 ,for small birds and        
quadrupeds1 cotton will be found most   
convenient2 for the larger1 tow2 for    
those still larger1 dry grass1 straw1   
sawdust1 bran1 or other vegetable       
substances1 may be used4 ,whatever      
substance be used1 care must be taken to
 have it perfectly dry4 ,under no       
circumstances should animal matter1 as  
hair1 wool1 or feathers1 be employed4   

,the bills and loral region1 as well as 
the legs and feet of birds1 and the     
ears1 lips and toes of mammals1 may1 as 
most exposed to the ravages of insects1 
be washed with an alcoholic solution of 
strychnine applied with a brush to the  
dried skin2 this will be an almost      
certain safeguard against injury4       
99       99       99       99       99  
,,fishing ,,with ,,natural ,,fly4--,this
 consists in fishing with the natural   
flies1 grasshoppers1 etc41 which are    
found on the banks of the rivers or     
lakes where you are fishing4 ,it is     
practiced with a long rod1 running      
tackle1 and fine line4 ,when learning   
this system of angling1 begin by fishing
 close under the banks1 gradually       
increasing your distance until you can  
throw your live bait across the stream1 
screening yourself behind a tree1 a     
bush1 or a cluster of weeds1 otherwise  
you will not have the satisfaction of   
lifting a single fish out of the water4 
,in rivers where immense quantities of  

weeds grow in the summer1 so as almost  
to check the current1 you must fish     
where the stream runs most rapidly1     
taking care that in throwing your line  
into those parts you do not entangle it 
among the weeds4 ,draw out only as much 
line as will let the fly touch the      
surface1 and if the wind is at your back
 it will be of no material service to   
you in carrying the fly lightly over the
 water4 ,in such places the water is    
generally still1 and your bait must1 if 
possible1 be dropped with no more noise 
than the living fly would make if it    
fell into the water4  ,keep the top of  
your rod a little elevated1 and         
frequently raise and depress it and move
 it to and fro very gently1 in order    
that the fly by its shifting about may  
deceive the fish and tempt them to make 
a bite4 ,the instant your bait is taken1
 strike smartly1 and if the fish is not 
so large as to overstrain and snap your 
tackle1 haul it out immediately1 as you 
may scare away many while trying to     

secure one4 ,there are very many baits  
which may be used with success in       
natural fly fishing1 of which1 however1 
we shall content ourselves with         
enumerating some of the most usual and  
useful4  ,wasps1 hornets and bumble bees
 are esteemed good baits for dace1 eels1
 roach1 bream and chub2 they should be  
dried in an oven over the fire1 and if  
not overdone1 they will keep a long     
while4         99       99       99     
99       99  ,,how ,,to ,,select        
,,furs4--,in purchasing furs1 a sure    
test of what dealers call a 8prime0 fur 
is the length and density of the down   
next the skin2 this can be readily      
determined by blowing a brisk current of
 air from the mouth against the set of  
fur4 ,if the fibers open readily1       
exposing the skin to the view1 reject   
the article2 but if the down is so dense
 that the breath cannot penetrate it1 or
 at most shows but a small portion of   
the skin1 the article may be accepted4  
99       99       99       99       99  

,,to ,,clean ,,furs4--,strip the fur    
articles of their stuffing and binding1 
and lay them as much as possible in a   
flat position4 ,they must then be       
subjected to a very brisk brushing1 with
 a stiff clothes brush2 after that1 any 
moth-eaten parts must be cut out1 and be
 neatly replaced by new bits of fur to  
match4 ,sable1 chinchilla1 squirrel1    
fitch1 etc41 should be treated as       
follows3 ,warm a quantity of new bran in
 a pan1 taking care that it does not    
burn1 to prevent which it must be       
actively stirred4 ,when well warmed1 rub
 it thoroughly into the fur with the    
hand4 ,repeat this two or three times2  
then shake the fur1 and give it another 
sharp brushing until free from dust4    
,white furs1 ermine1 etc41 may be       
cleaned as follows3 ,lay the fur on the 
table1 and rub it well with bran made   
moist with warm water2 rub until quite  
dry1 and afterward with dry bran4 ,the  
wet bran should be put on with flannel1 
and the dry with a piece of book-muslin4

  ,the light furs1 in addition to the   
above1 should be well rubbed with       
magnesia1 or a piece of book-muslin     
after the bran process4 ,furs are       
usually much improved by stretching1    
which may be managed as follows3 to a   
pint of soft water add three ounces of  
salt2 dissolve2 with this solution      
sponge the inside of the skin 7taking   
care not to wet the fur7 until it       
becomes thoroughly saturated2 then lay  
it carefully on a board with the fur    
side downward1 in its natural           
disposition1 then stretch as much as it 
will bear1 to the required shape1 and   
fasten with small tacks4 ,the drying may
 be quickened by placing the skin a     
little distance from the fire or stove4 
99       99       99       99       99  
,,fishing ,,with ,,artificial           
,,fly4--,artificial fly fishing consists
 in the use of imitations of these flies
 and of other fancy flies1 and is       
unquestionably the most scientific mode 
of angling1 requiring great tact and    

practice to make the flies with neatness
 and to use them successfully1 and      
calling forth as it does so much more   
skill than the ordinary method of bottom
 fishing1 it merits its superior        
reputation4  ,it possesses many         
advantages over bottom fishing1 but at  
the same time it has its disadvantages2 
it is much more cleanly in its          
preparations1 inasmuch as it does not   
require the angler to grub for clay and 
work up a quantity of ground baits1 and 
is not so toilsome in its practice1 for 
the only encumbrances which the fly     
fisher has are simply a light rod1 a    
book of flies and whatever fish he may  
chance to catch2 but there are several  
kinds of fish which will not rise at a  
fly1 and even those that do will not be 
lured from their quiet retreat during   
very wet or cold weather4 ,it would be  
well if the young angler could go out   
for some little time with an old        
experienced hand1 to observe and imitate
 his movements as closely as possible4  

99       99       99       99       99  
,,to ,,prepare ,,sheep ,,skins ,,for    
,,mats4--,make a strong lather with hot 
water and let it stand till cold2 wash  
the fresh skin in it1 carefully         
squeezing out all the dirt from the     
wool2 wash it in cold water till all the
 soap is taken out4 ,dissolve a pound   
each of salt and alum in two gallons of 
hot water1 and put the skin into a tub  
sufficient to cover it2 let it soak for 
twelve hours1 and hang it over a pole to
 drain4 ,when well drained stretch it   
carefully on a board to dry1 and stretch
 several times while drying4 ,before it 
is quite dry1 sprinkle on the flesh side
 one ounce each of finely pulverized    
alum and saltpetre1 rubbing it in well4 
,try if the wool be firm on the skin2 if
 not1 let it remain a day or two1 then  
rub again with alum2 fold the flesh     
sides together and hang in the shade for
 two or three days1 turning them over   
each day till quite dry4 ,scrape the    
flesh side with a blunt knife1 and rub  

it with pumice or rotten stone4         
99       99       99       99       99  
,,to ,,tan ,,sheep ,,skins4--,sheep     
skins1 which are used for a variety of  
purposes1 such as gloves1 book-covers1  
etc41 and which when dyed1 are converted
 into mock ,morocco leather1 are dressed
 as follows3 ,they are first to be      
soaked in water and handled1 to separate
 all impurities1 which may be scraped   
off by a blunt knife on a beam4 ,they   
are then to be hung up in a close1 warm 
room to putrefy4 ,this putrefaction     
loosens the wool1 and causes the        
exudation of an oily and slimy matter1  
all which are to be removed by the      
knife4 ,the skins are now to be steeped 
in milk of lime1 to harden and thicken2 
here they remain for #a month or #f     
weeks1 according to circumstances1 and  
when taken out1 they are to be smoothed 
on the fleshy side with a sharp knife4  
,they are now to be steeped in a bath of
 bran and water1 where they undergo a   
partial fermentation1 and become thinner

 in their substance4  ,the skins1 which 
are now called pelts1 are to be immersed
 in a solution of alum and common salt  
in water2 in the proportion of #abj     
skins to three pounds of alum and five  
pounds of salt4 ,they are to be much    
agitated in this compound saline bath1  
in order to become firm and tough4 ,from
 this bath they are to be removed to    
another1 composed of bran and water1    
where they remain until quite pliant by 
a slight fermentation4 ,to give their   
upper surface a gloss1 they are to be   
trodden in a wooden tub1 with a solution
 of yolks of eggs in water1 previously  
well beaten up4 ,when this solution has 
become transparent1 it is a proof that  
the skins have absorbed the glazing     
matter4 ,the pelt may now be said to be 
converted into leather1 which is to be  
drained from moisture1 hung upon hooks  
in a warm apartment to dry1 and smoothed
 over with warm hand-irons4         99  
99       99       99       99  ,,to     
,,trap ,,young ,,mink4--,,mink          

,,breeding4--,adult minks are almost    
untamable1 but young ones readily submit
 to handling1 and are easily            
domesticated4 ,the time to secure young 
minks is in ,may and ,june1 when they   
begin to run with their dams4 ,the      
streams must be quietly watched for mink
 trails1 and these tracked to the nest4 
,when they leave the hole the old one   
may be shot1 and the young ones secured1
 or they may be dug out4 ,those who own 
a breeding stock of minks ask high      
prices for them2 but trappers represent 
to us that it is an easy matter to get  
the wild young ones4 ,habits4--,a       
successful breeder says that he does not
 attempt to tame the wild mink1 but only
 aims to supply for it in a small space 
all the necessities of its natural      
instincts4 ,he says the mating season   
commences about the first of ,march1 and
 lasts two weeks1 never varying much    
from that date4  ,the female carries her
 young about six weeks4 ,in the minkery1
 where diet1 water1 temperature1 etc41  

are similar with each animal1 there is  
so little difference in the time of     
mating and time of bearing young in     
different animals1 that five out of six 
litters dropped last spring1 were born  
within twelve hours of each other4 ,the 
young are blind from four to five weeks1
 but are very active1 and playful as    
kittens4 ,the mother weans them at from 
eight to ten weeks old4 ,at four weeks  
the mother begins to feed them meat2    
this they learn to suck before they have
 teeth to eat it4  ,the nests in which  
the young are born are lined by the     
mother with some soft material1 and are 
made in the hollow of some old stump1 or
 between the projecting roots of some   
old tree1 and always where it is        
perfectly dry4 ,the nest is located near
 pure running water1 which the mother   
visits twice every twenty-four hours4   
,she feeds her young on frogs1 fish1    
birds1 mice1 crabs1 etc41 etc4 ,the mink
 is from birth a pattern of neatness and
 cleanliness1 and as soon as a nest     

begins to get foul and offensive1 she   
takes one of the young in her mouth1 and
 depositing it in a clean1 suitable     
place1 builds a nest about it1 and then 
brings the balance of the litter4 ,she  
feeds and cares for them until they are 
three and a half or four months old4    
,when the young are weaned1 about the   
#ajth of ,july1 she builds her nest near
 the water1 in which the young soon     
learn to play4 ,there are usually four  
in a litter1 though the number ranges   
from two to six4 ,towards fall the      
mother separates them into pairs4 ,one  
pair--or if the number be odd1 the odd  
one--is left in the nest2 the other pair
 or pairs1 she places them often half a 
mile from each other1 and then seeks new
 quarters for herself4  ,the young soon 
separate1 and each one catches his own  
frogs1 etc4 ,they do not pair1 but the  
male is a sort of rover and free-lover4 
,minks are unsociable1 petulant1 vicious
 in play1 savage in war4 ,late in the   
fall they establish regular runaways    

from one stream to another1 and usually 
under brush-fallen trees1 weeds swale1  
and under banks--anywhere1 in fact1     
where they can avoid the sunshine1 and  
escape the chances of observation4 ,the 
mink is a sure prophet1 and just before 
hard winter begins1 he lays by a store  
of food for the winter in safe places   
near his winter nests1 of which he has  
several4 ,as the snows fall he burrows  
under the snow1 where he remains until  
about ,february1 when his supply of food
 is exhausted1 and he is forced to seek 
further for food4         99       99   
99       99       99  ,,management      
,,of4--,mink being by nature solitary1  
wandering creatures1 being seldom seen  
in company except during the breeding   
season1 are1 therefore1 impossible to be
 reared successfully1 if large numbers  
are kept constantly together1 therefore 
their inclosure should be a large one4  
,the male and female should be permitted
 to be together frequently from the     
middle of ,february until the middle of 

,march4 ,at all other times keep them   
entirely separate4 ,the young mink make 
their appearance about the first of     
,may4 ,when wild in the woods they will 
seldom vary five days from this time1   
but when kept in confinement there is   
greater variation4 ,about this season   
they should have plenty of fine hay1    
which they will carry into their boxes  
to make nests4 ,a box three or four feet
 long and eighteen inches wide is the   
shape they prefer4 ,it should be placed 
as far as possible from the water to    
prevent the mink from carrying water and
 mud into it4  ,the young mink when     
first born are small and delicate1      
destitute of any kind of fur1 and much  
resembling young rats4 ,if the old mink 
is tame the young ones may be taken out 
of the nest and handled when they are   
three weeks old4 ,they will soon learn  
to drink milk1 and may feed every day4  
,at five weeks old they may be taken    
from the mother and put into a pen by   
themselves1 when they will soon become  

very playful and pretty1 and make much  
better mothers than they would if       
allowed to run with the old ones4  ,the 
shelter should be in the shape of a long
 box1 #e or #f feet wide1 and #c or #d  
feet high1 set upon legs1 and with a    
good floor and roof4 ,divide it into    
separate compartments1 #f feet long 7or 
longer would be better17 the front of   
each apartment to be furnished with a   
swinging door of strong wire screen1    
with the hinges at the top1 and a button
 or some kind of fastener at the bottom4
 ,a trough #f inches square1 made by    
nailing three boards together1 should   
run the whole length of the pen on the  
back side2 one end of the trough should 
be made several inches lower than the   
other1 so that the water can be drawn   
off4 ,with this arrangement1 the water  
can be turned in at one end of the      
trough1 and drawn off and changed as    
often as desired4 ,the lower end of the 
trough should be a little deeper than   
the other1 to prevent the water from    

running over4 ,each apartment is        
furnished with a box #c feet long and   
eighteen inches wide4 ,on one side of   
the box and near one end is made a round
 hole1 #b-a_/b inches in diameter1 and  
provided with a sliding cover so that by
 means of a stick it can be opened or   
closed from the outside4  ,this is so   
the mink can be shut up when the pen is 
being cleaned out4 ,on the top of the   
box and at the other end should be a    
door large enough to put in hay for the 
nest and take out the young4 ,it is     
necessary that they have abundance of   
pure1 soft water1 fresh air1 desirable  
shade and plenty of exercise4 ,these    
conditions secure to the mink a good    
quality of dark fur and good health4    
,brush1 weeds1 etc41 are allowed to grow
 in the yard1 but not near enough the   
wall to admit of their climbing up and  
out4  ,in addition to the above         
directions for breeding mink1 we give   
the following experience of a gentleman 
in ,vermont3 8,i purchased one female   

and her litter of five1 two males and   
four females in all1 and constructed a  
building of rough boards1 #aj by #d     
feet1 for a minkery4 ,it had a floor    
tight enough to prevent the escape of   
the animals1 was properly ventilated1   
and divided into six apartments1 one of 
which is an ante-room in which to step  
from the outside and close the door4    
,water is supplied by a lead pipe       
running in at one side through all the  
rooms1 and out at the other into a      
trough where small fish are kept1 and   
occasionally given to the minks4  8,they
 were kept together until ,december the 
#ahth1 when the males were put in an    
apartment by themselves4 ,on the #ajth  
of ,march each male was put in with a   
female1 each pair separate1 and after a 
couple of days1 one of the males was put
 in with another female1 and finally    
with the third4 ,they were separated    
about the #ast of ,april1 each female   
being kept alone and supplied with a    
suitable box1 with warm material for a  

nest4 ,when it was supposed they were   
about to bring forth their young1 they  
were disturbed as little as possible2   
anything to excite them at this time1   
should be avoided1 for when irritated1  
they will sometimes eat their young4    
,the first female put with the perfect  
male1 brought forth seven1 one of which 
disappeared after they began to crawl   
around out of their nest4 ,the other two
 females had each a pair1 all of which  
7but the one mentioned7 are now alive1  
fine1 fat1 sleek fellows1 and fully     
grown4 ,they are very easily kept1 being
 fed once a day upon warm milk with     
wheat bread crumbs--a quart sufficing   
for the whole lot1 and once upon fresh  
meat1 care being taken not to over-feed4
  8,any kind of meat and offal that is  
not too fat will answer4 ,they are very 
fond of beef liver1 chickens' heads and 
entrails1 woodchucks 7being careful not 
to give them the gall or the liver1     
which is poisonous71 rats1 mice1 etc4   
,they are more easily cared for than one

 hog and much more cheaply kept4        
,nothing was paid out for meat for them 
until after #ast ,july1 when a contract 
was made with a butcher to leave a      
bullock's head once a week4 ,i am       
confident that the increase of the      
minkery would have been fully one-third 
more if both the males had been perfect4
 ,i intend to keep them in pairs        
hereafter4 ,they are not easily handled1
 but struggle when caught against their 
will and exude the thick fetid substance
 from glands near the vent4 ,they will  
bite severely1 but can be handled safely
 with thick buckskin gloves40           
,illustration3 ,,the ,,end4         99  
99       99       99       99  ,,useful 
,,and ,,instructive ,,books4  ,,how ,,to
 ,,keep ,,and ,,manage ,,pets--,giving  
complete information as to the manner   
and method of raising1 keeping1 taming1 
breeding1 and managing all kinds of     
pets2 also giving full instructions for 
making cages1 etc4 ,fully explained by  
#bh illustrations1 making it the most   

complete book of the kind ever          
published4 ,price #aj cents4 ,address   
,frank ,tousey1 publisher1 ,new ,york4  
,,how ,,to ,,do ,,electrical            
,,tricks4--,containing a large          
collection of instructive and highly    
amusing electrical tricks1 together with
 illustrations4 ,by ,a4 ,anderson4      
,price #aj cents4 ,for sale by all      
newsdealers1 or sent1 post-paid1 upon   
receipt of the price4 ,address ,frank   
,tousey1 ,publisher1 ,new ,york4  ,,how 
,,to ,,write ,,letters--,a wonderful    
little book1 telling you how to write to
 your sweetheart1 your father1 mother1  
sister1 brother1 employer2 and1 in fact1
 everybody and anybody you wish to write
 to4 ,every young man and every young   
lady in the land should have this book4 
,it is for sale by all newsdealers4     
,price #aj cents1 or sent from this     
office on receipt of price4 ,address    
,frank ,tousey1 publisher1 ,new ,york4  
,,how ,,to ,,do ,,puzzles--,containing  
over #cjj interesting puzzles and       

conundrums with key to same4 ,a complete
 book4 ,fully illustrated4 ,by ,a4      
,anderson4 ,price #aj cents4 ,for sale  
by all newsdealers1 or sent1 post-paid1 
upon receipt of the price4 ,address     
,frank ,tousey1 ,publisher1 ,new ,york4 
,,how ,,to ,,do #dj ,,tricks ,,with     
,,cards--,containing deceptive ,card    
,tricks as performed by leading         
conjurers and magicians4 ,arranged for  
home amusement4 ,fully illustrated4     
,price #aj cents4 ,address ,frank       
,tousey1 publisher1 ,new ,york4  ,,how  
,,to ,,make ,a ,,magic                  
,,lantern--,containing description of   
the lantern1 together with its history  
and invention4 ,also full directions for
 its use and for painting slides4       
,handsomely illustrated1 by ,john       
,allen4 ,price #aj cents4 ,for sale by  
all newsdealers in the ,united ,states  
and ,canada1 or will be sent to your    
address1 post-paid1 on receipt of price4
 ,address ,frank ,tousey1 publisher1    
,new ,york4  ,,how ,,to ,,become ,,an   

,,actor--,containing complete           
instructions how to make up for various 
characters on the stage2 together with  
the duties of the ,stage ,manager1      
,prompter1 ,scenic ,artist and ,property
 ,man4 ,by a prominent ,stage ,manager4 
,price #aj cents4 ,address ,frank       
,tousey1 publisher1 ,n4 ,y4         99  
99       99       99       99  ,,buy ,a 
,,copy ,,of 8,,wild ,,west ,,weekly0    
,,containing  ,stories of ,western ,life
  ,by ,,an ,,old ,,scout  #cb ,pages of 
,splendid ,reading ,matter4 ,beautifully
 ,illuminated ,covers4 ,a ,new ,one     
,issued ,every ,friday4 ,price #e       
,cents4  ,this library gives the daring 
adventures of a plucky boy among the    
cowboys1 ,indians1 miners and soldiers  
of the ,far ,west4 ,they are the most   
dashing romances ever written1 and will 
hold your interest from beginning to    
end4  ,,see ,,how ,,you ,,like ,,them   
,glance ,over ,this ,list3  ,no4  #ij   
,young ,wild ,west's ,indian ,scout2 or1
 ,arietta and the ,pawnee ,maiden4  #ia 

,young ,wild ,west and the 8,salted0    
,mine2 or1 ,the ,double ,game for a     
,million4  #ib ,young ,wild ,west's     
,overland ,route2 or1 ,the ,masked ,band
 of ,death ,pass4  #ic ,young ,wild     
,west's ,iron ,grip2 or1 ,settling the  
,cowboy ,feud4  #id ,young ,wild ,west's
 ,last ,chance2 or1 ,arietta's ,narrow  
,escape4  #ie ,young ,wild ,west and the
 ,gold ,grabbers2 or1 ,the ,fight for   
the ,widow's ,claim4  #if ,young ,wild  
,west and the ,branded ,band2 or1 ,the  
,scourge of ,skeleton ,skit4  #ig ,young
 ,wild ,west's ,double ,danger2 or1 ,the
 ,sign of the ,secret ,seven4  #ih      
,young ,wild ,west and the ,renegade    
,rustlers2 or1 ,saved by the ,sorrel    
,stallion4  #ii ,young ,wild ,west's    
,fandango2 or1 ,arietta ,among the      
,mexicans4  #ajj ,young ,wild ,west and 
the ,double ,deuce2 or1 ,the ,domino    
,gang of ,denver4  #aja ,young ,wild    
,west on the ,prairie2 or1 ,the ,trail  
,that ,had ,no ,end4  #ajb ,young ,wild 
,west and 8,missouri ,mike02 or1 ,the   

,worst ,man in ,wyoming4  #ajc ,young   
,wild ,west at the ,golden ,gate2 or1 a 
,business ,trip to ',frisco4  #ajd      
,young ,wild ,west and the ,redskin     
,raiders2 or1 ,arietta's ,leap for      
,life4  ,for sale by all newsdealers or 
sent to any address on receipt of price1
 #e cents per copy1 in money or postage 
stamps4  ,,frank ,,tousey1 ,publisher1  
#bd ,union ,square1 ,n4 ,y4         99  
99       99       99       99  ,,are    
,,you ,,reading  8,work ,,and ,win0     
,,it ,,contains  ,the ,great ,fred      
,fearnot ,stories    ,,issued ,,every   
,,friday   #cb ,,pages ,,price #e       
,,cents   ,,handsome ,,colored ,,covers 
,each number details the interesting1   
humorous and startling adventures of two
 bright1 independent boys4 ,they see    
everything in life1 enjoy plenty fun and
 do all the good they can4 ,don't miss  
these stories4  ,,they ,,are ,,fine     
,read the ,following ,titles3  ,no4     
#bid ,fred ,fearnot's ,wall ,street     
,game2 or1 ,fighting the ,bucket ,shops4

  #bie ,fred ,fearnot's ,society        
,circus2 or1 ,the ,fun ,that ,built a   
,school-,house4  #bif ,fred ,fearnot's  
,wonderful ,courage2 or1 ,the ,mistake  
of the ,train ,robber4  #big ,fred      
,fearnot's ,friend from ,india1 and the 
,wonderful ,things ,he ,did4  #bih ,fred
 ,fearnot and the ,poor ,widow2 or1     
,making a ,mean ,man ,do ,right4  #bii  
,fred ,fearnot's ,cowboys2 or1 ,tackling
 the ,ranch ,raiders4  #cjj ,fred       
,fearnot and the ,money ,lenders2 or1   
,breaking ,up a ,swindling ,gang4  #cja 
,fred ,fearnot's ,gun ,club2 or1        
,shooting for a ,diamond ,cup4  #cjb    
,fred ,fearnot and the ,braggart2 or1   
,having ,fun with an ,egotist4  #cjc    
,fred ,fearnot's ,fire ,brigade2 or1    
,beating the ,insurance ,frauds4  #cjd  
,fred ,fearnot's ,temperance ,lectures2 
or1 ,fighting ,rum and ,ruin4  #cje     
,fred ,fearnot and the 8,cattle ,queen02
 or1 ,a ,desperate ,woman's ,game4  #cjf
 ,fred ,fearnot and the ,boomers2 or1   
,the ,game that ,failed4  ,for sale by  

all newsdealers or sent to any address  
on receipt of price1 #e cents per copy1 
in money or postage stamps4  ,,frank    
,,tousey1 ,publisher1 #bd ,union        
,square1 ,n4 ,y4         99       99    
99       99       99  ,,useful ,,and    
,,instructive ,,books4  ,,how ,,to ,,do 
,,the ,,black ,,art--,containing a      
complete description of the mysteries of
 ,magic and ,sleight-of-,hand1 together 
with many wonderful experiments4 ,by ,a4
 ,anderson4 ,illustrated4 ,price #aj    
cents4 ,address ,frank ,tousey1         
publisher1 ,n4 ,y4  ,,how ,,to ,,be ,a  
,,detective--,by ,old ,king ,brady1 the 
world known detective4 ,in which he lays
 down some valuable and sensible rules  
for beginners1 and also relates some    
adventures and experiences of well-known
 detectives4 ,price #aj cents4 ,for sale
 by all newsdealers in the ,united      
,states and ,canada1 or sent to your    
address1 post-paid1 on receipt of price4
 ,address ,frank ,tousey1 publisher1    
,new ,york4  ,,how ,,to ,,become ,a     

,,conjurer--,containing tricks with     
,dominoes1 ,dice1 ,cups and ,balls1     
,hats1 etc4 ,embracing #cf              
illustrations4 ,by ,a4 ,anderson4 ,price
 #aj cents4 ,address ,frank ,tousey1    
publisher1 ,new ,york4  ,,how ,,to ,,do 
,,mechanical ,,tricks--,containing      
complete instructions for performing    
over sixty ,mechanical ,tricks4 ,by ,a4 
,anderson4 ,fully illustrated4 ,price   
#aj cents4 ,for sale by all newsdealers1
 or we will send it by mail1 postage    
free1 upon receipt of price4 ,address   
,frank ,tousey1 ,publisher1 ,n4 ,y4     
,,how ,,to ,,do ,,sixty ,,tricks ,,with 
,,cards--,embracing all of the latest   
and most deceptive card tricks with     
illustrations4 ,by ,a4 ,anderson4 ,price
 #aj cents4 ,for sale by all            
newsdealers1 or we will send it to you  
by mail1 postage free1 upon receipt of  
price4 ,address ,frank ,tousey1         
,publisher1 ,n4 ,y4  ,,how ,,to ,,make  
,,electrical ,,machines--,containing    
full directions for making electrical   

machines1 induction coils1 dynamos1 and 
many novel toys to be worked by         
electricity4 ,by ,r4 ,a4 ,r4 ,bennett4  
,fully illustrated4 ,price #aj cents4   
,for sale by all newsdealers in the     
,united ,states and ,canada1 or will be 
sent to your address1 post-paid1 on     
receipt of price4 ,address ,frank       
,tousey1 publisher1 ,new ,york4  ,,how  
,,to ,,become ,a ,,bowler--,a complete  
manual of bowling4 ,containing full     
instructions for playing all the        
standard ,american and ,german games1   
together with rules and systems of      
sporting in use by the principal bowling
 clubs in the ,united ,states4 ,by      
,bartholomew ,batterson4 ,price #aj     
cents4 ,for sale by all newsdealers in  
the ,united ,states and ,canada1 or sent
 to your address1 postage free1 on      
receipt of the price4 ,address ,frank   
,tousey1 publisher1 ,new ,york4         
99       99       99       99       99  
,,our ,,ten ,,cent ,,hand ,,books4      
,,useful1 ,,instructive ,,and ,,amusing4

  ,containing valuable information on   
almost every subject1 such as ,writing1 
,speaking1 ,dancing1 ,cooking2 also     
,rules of ,etiquette1 ,the ,art of      
,ventriloquism1 ,gymnastic ,exercises1  
and ,the ,science of ,self-,defense1    
etc41 etc4  #a ,napoleon's ,oraculum and
 ,dream ,book4  #b ,how to ,do ,tricks4 
#c ,how to ,flirt4  #d ,how to ,dance4  
#e ,how to ,make ,love4  #f ,how to     
,become an ,athlete4  #g ,how to ,keep  
,birds4  #h ,how to ,become a           
,scientist4  #i ,how to ,become a       
,ventriloquist4  #aj ,how to ,box4  #aa 
,how to ,write ,love ,letters4  #ab ,how
 to ,write ,letters to ,ladies4  #ac    
,how to ,do ,it2 or1 ,book of           
,etiquette4  #ad ,how to ,make ,candy4  
#ae ,how to ,become ,rich4  #af ,how to 
,keep a ,window ,garden4  #ag ,how to   
,dress4  #ah ,how to ,become ,beautiful4
  #ai ,frank ,tousey's ,u4 ,s4 ,distance
 ,tables1 ,pocket ,companion and ,guide4
  #bj ,how to ,entertain an ,evening    
,party4  #ba ,how to ,hunt and ,fish4   

#bb ,how to ,do ,second ,sight4  #bc    
,how to ,explain ,dreams4  #bd ,how to  
,write ,letters to ,gentlemen4  #be ,how
 to ,become a ,gymnast4  #bf ,how to    
,row1 ,sail and ,build a ,boat4  #bg    
,how to ,recite and ,book of            
,recitations4  #bh ,how to ,tell        
,fortunes4  #bi ,how to ,become an      
,inventor4  #cj ,how to ,cook4  #ca ,how
 to ,become a ,speaker4  #cb ,how to    
,ride a ,bicycle4  #cc ,how to ,behave4 
#cd ,how to ,fence4  #ce ,how to ,play  
,games4  #cf ,how to ,solve ,conundrums4
  #cg ,how to ,keep ,house4  #ch ,how to
 ,become ,your ,own ,doctor4  #ci ,how  
to ,raise ,dogs1 ,poultry1 ,pigeons and 
,rabbits4  #dj ,how to ,make and ,set   
,traps4  #da ,the ,boys of ,new ,york   
,end ,men's ,joke ,book4  #db ,the ,boys
 of ,new ,york ,stump ,speaker4  #dc    
,how to ,become a ,magician4  #dd ,how  
to ,write in an ,album4  #de ,the ,boys 
of ,new ,york ,minstrel ,guide and ,joke
 ,book4  #df ,how to ,make and ,use     
,electricity4  #dg ,how to ,break1 ,ride

 and ,drive a ,horse4  #dh ,how to      
,build and ,sail ,canoes4  #di ,how to  
,debate4  #ej ,how to ,stuff ,birds and 
,animals4  #ea ,how to ,do ,tricks with 
,cards4  #eb ,how to ,play ,cards4  #ec 
,how to ,write ,letters4  #ed ,how to   
,keep and ,manage ,pets4  #ee ,how to   
,collect ,stamps and ,coins4  #ef ,how  
to ,become an ,engineer4  #eg ,how to   
,make ,musical ,instruments4  #eh ,how  
to ,become a ,detective4  #ei ,how to   
,make a ,magic ,lantern4  #fj ,how to   
,become a ,photographer4  #fa ,how to   
,become a ,bowler4  #fb ,how to ,become 
a ,west ,point ,military ,cadet4  #fc   
,how to ,become a ,naval ,cadet4  #fd   
,how to ,make ,electrical ,machines4    
#fe ,muldoon's ,jokes4  #ff ,how to ,do 
,puzzles4  #fg ,how to ,do ,electrical  
,tricks4  #fh ,how to ,do ,chemical     
,tricks4  #fi ,how to ,do ,sleight of   
,hand4  #gj ,how to ,make ,magic ,toys4 
#ga ,how to ,do ,mechanical ,tricks4    
#gb ,how to ,do ,sixty ,tricks with     
,cards4  #gc ,how to ,do ,tricks with   

,numbers4  #gd ,how to ,write ,letters  
,correctly4  #ge ,how to ,become a      
,conjuror4  #gf ,how to ,tell ,fortunes 
by the ,hand4  #gg ,how to ,do ,forty   
,tricks with ,cards4  #gh ,how to ,do   
the ,black ,art4  #gi ,how to ,become an
 ,actor  #hj ,gus ,williams' ,joke      
,book4  ,all the above books are for    
sale by newsdealers throughout the      
,united ,states and ,canada1 or they    
will be sent1 post-paid1 to your        
address1 on receipt of #aj;c4 each4     
,send ,your ,name and ,address for ,our 
,latest ,illustrated ,catalogue4        
,,frank ,,tousey1 ,publisher1  #bd      
,,union ,,square1 ,,new ,,york4         
99       99       99       99       99  
,transcriber's note3  ,illustrations    
have been moved to paragraph breaks near
 where they are mentioned4  ,punctuation
 has been made consistent4  ,variations 
in spelling and hyphenation were        
retained as they appear in the original 
publication1 except that obvious        
typographical errors have been          

corrected4  ,changes have been made as  
follows3  ,the notation #a #b for       
fractions has been changed to #a_/b4  p4
 #aa3 muste la changed to mustela       
7invest mustela vulgaris7  p4 #cj3 #e   
changed to #f 7,fig4 #f74 ,the  p4 #ci3 
,fig4 #f referenced here does not exist4