Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-04-08
TRAPPING ON NATIONAL SCALE
Hh FREDERIC J. HAsKIN.

taking wolvcs and bears Won nnav no.
some very ingenious ones for Captuy-
ing English aparrows, mice. rabbits
and other small posts which make u,
~ numbers what they lack i'm .iz.
The Biological Survey has repcatedly
"ndcavcrcd 10 start Campairns for Tho
determination Of the English sparrow
hut IT has always been thwartcd TO
considerable extent by wcll-mcaninx
persons. who do not believe that any
BIRD should he molested. Tho English
sparrow is an imported nuisance whict,
cats the eggs Of native Suncbirds ha,
q particular liking FOR every young
vegetables. ana annually consumes an
immense share Of the wheat crop All
OF TINS has been amply proved BY tho
scientists. but tho Sparvow y,i,I
,hrivcs and multipi!cs All over tho
United states. Tn" government men
have perfected sparrow tran how
ever. which has been used with rrea,
success on tho grounds Of the Dcpart-
mcnt of Agriculture. and they will
furnish full plans for building IT 10
anyone who is Interested. The tran
is An immense AFFAIR, consisting OF =
counl" OF wiz" tunnels. which thc spar
row can easily enter, but cannot leave
Many of the traps in the collection
arc OF German MAKE. 1hev arc very
Ingenious. bat most Of them would
not be 81 much use IN this country.
and confdiur nature on tho part OF
IN" creature 20 ne caught. German
sparrow trap consists ~ bit OF wood
ola boratcly decorated to look Xix" the
Limb OF q tree over II * suspendct,
"a net. actuat"d by sprin; II tho
sparrow viii altght upon the linn aud
peck IN" bat tn" not VIII descend
upon himif he doosu', get out OF the
way.
Killer
The most ingenious trap the GOV.
crnmcul has devised is FOR the de-
struction OF the common domestic ct.
The great number OF ALLEY cats tina,
60 Wild ana live upon song birds and
young chickens has created q demand
for their -Xtcrmination The govern
mcnt cat-k iller consists In an elevated
bon. with a bottle ~ carbon disulphidc
under Il III" same device that re-
leases Tho box when the ca, touchc.
the halt opens the bottl" OF poison.
and the cat. Imprisoned with The dead
Is fumes. goes finally 10 sleep II,
sounds rather too elaborate, but IL
works. ana The plans tor making IL
may be Obtained from tho Biological
survey.
The Germans have also plotted
against The ninc lives Of Puss. Their
very characteristic cat trap consists
IN l.ttlc cage wherein is imprisoned
a I've mouse. Wn"n the cat springs
q, this hnit, the trap closes and inn
prisons it, Tho necessity OF first catch
ING live mouse has interr"red With
the popularity Of This device.
The government has designed va
ri",y Of mouse traps One or the best
the government men have found. how
ever. was invented hv Wisconsin
farmer II is made out OF corn con.
which looks just like any other corn
cob. and MAY be placed In the crib
for the undoinS OF hungry vermin y
German mouse trap In the government
collection IS nhcllished With pic
turc OF a cat weeping over the loss OF
her job. This trap allures the mouse.
hy means or = bait. to enter a door,
which springs shut behind him. He 10
then confronted by a tunnel which
seems to offer a means OF escape. but
really leads TO trap-door which
drops him into n can OF water and
leaves him to drown ~ leisure.
Rabbit traps have also been design
ed BY the department. In fact, IL
there is any sort OF vermin In your
farm or your house that ought 10 he
destroyed. Uncle Sam can help you
! do u.