A New or Improved Method and Means of Snaring Rabbits, Hares, or the like.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Nov., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 10th Aug., 1893-Accepted, 16th Sept., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Method and Means of Snaring Rabbits, Hares,
or the like.
I, The Count LOUIS MARIE DOMINIQUE DE LYROT, residing at 18 Rue de
l'Arcade, Paris, France, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The invention forming the subject matter of the present application for Patent
relates to a system of snaring game such as hares rabbits or the like.
My present invention is intended to be applied to the entrance to a burrow (such
as hares or rabbits etc.) not in order to imprison the game but on the contrary for
the purpose of permitting it to pass out freely and thereafter preventing its re-entry
to the abode.
In order to make the nature and the object of my invention understood I will
take for example the rabbit :-
It is known that all the rabbits leave their burrows at night and that many of
them return in the early morning.
Under the ordinary conditions the shooter or sportsman only meets with those
animals which remain outside the burrows.
Now system of taking them may with advantage be substituted for ferreting in
this sense that it permits the rabbits to come out (and then keeps them out)
without it being necessary to take any other trouble than to place the apparatus
further that the rabbits having once come out are quite free in the woods or
hunting grounds where the shooters will meet with them in much larger numbers as
notwithstanding the gun firing they cannot re-enter their warrens (or burrows etc.)
whilst the apparatus are in place.
The following description will show the application of my present invention.
During the day which precedes the shooting my apparatus is placed at the
opening of the burrows the rabbits can thus come out freely during the night but
they cannot re-enter and when the shooting is over my apparatus is then removed,
and thus leave the entrance open to the burrows.
In addition to the above indicated uses-my apparatus may be applied to the
destruction of all hurtful animals especially in places (such as Australia) where
rabbits abound and constitute a veritable scourge my apparatus may be of great
assistance in the destruction of these animals.
In order that it may be well understood I have represented in the annexed
drawing (by way of example only) the application of my apparatus for use in
connection with rabbits.
Figure 1 shows side view of the apparatus.
Figure 2 is an end view-looking at the larger end.
Figure 3 shows same applied to the opening of a burrow and the position which
the flexible branches occupy during the passage of a rabbit through the
apparatus.
Figure 4 shows the same apparatus after the rabbit has come out of the burrow
and the position of the points preventing the rabbit from re-entering.
Figures 5 and 6 show variations in the closure of the apparatus after the passage
of the animal.
As will be seen the, snare (which may advantageously have the conic form) is
composed of wires a fixed upon the bars 6 the extremity of each of the wires a is
terminated by a hook c which hooks c by reason of the bending of the wires a
(which must be more or less compressed according to the size of the holes in order

page_text: to make them enter) are thus fixed to the earth etc. and hold the snare when it has
been placed in the opening of a burrow.
A stem d is to be forced into the ground (if required) to give more firmness to
the apparatus.
The free ends a¹ of the wires are of a smaller diameter and in addition to being
free are also flexible and after the passage of the animal they close in such a
manner as to form an obstacle to the return of the animal which wants to re-enter
its burrow as shown in Figures 1 to 4.
I may for example replace the wires a¹ by a door e (Fig. 5) which closes
automatically by its own weight after the passage of the animal.
I may also place a trapdoor f as it is shown in Figure 6 which will swing down
at the moment of the passage of the animal and close afterwards under the action
of a counter-balance weight.
To place the apparatus in the opening of a burrow a simple pressure of the
wires a which carry the hooks c suffices for the introduction upon ceasing to
exercise the pressure the wires spring outward and endeavour to resume their
normal position and the hooks c bury themselves in the earth etc. and then the
apparatus is in place.
In order to avoid the turning over of the apparatus the part which comes in
contact with the ground is flat and the point d further secures stability as previously
explained.
I wish it to be understood that I do not wish to limit myself to the exact forms,
dimensions, materials and details of the apparatus without in any respect changing
the principle of my invention which consists entirely in the novel arrangement
construction and application of the snare not to imprison the game but on the
contrary to force it to remain outside its burrow or the like.
Dated this 18th day of November 1892.
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
34, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Method and Means of Snaring Rabbits, Hares,
or the like.
I, The Count LOUIS MARIE DOMINIQUE DE LYROT, residing at 18 Rue de
l'Arcade, Paris, France, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement:-
My present invention is intended to be applied to the entrance to a burrow (such
as hares or rabbits etc.) not in order to imprison the said game but on the contrary
for the purpose of permitting it to pass out freely and thereafter preventing its
re-entry to the abode.
In order to make the nature and the object of my invention understood I will
take for example the rabbit :-
It is known that rabbits leave their burrows at night and that many of them
return in the early morning.
Under the ordinary conditions the shooter or sportsman only meets with those
animals which remain outside the burrows.
Now my system of trapping them or keeping them outside may with advantage
be substituted for ferreting in this sense that it permits the rabbits to come out
(and then keeps them out) without it being necessary to take any other trouble
than to place the apparatus further that the rabbits having once come out are quite
free in the woods or hunting grounds where the shooters will meet with them in
mach larger numbers as notwithstanding the gun firing they cannot re-enter their
warrens (or burrows etc.) whilst the apparatus are in place.

page_text: opening of the burrows the rabbits can thus come out freely during the night but
they cannot re-enter and when the shooting is over my apparatus is then removed
and thus leave the entrance open to the burrows.
In addition to the above indicated uses-my apparatus may be applied to the
destruction of all hurtful animals especially in places (such as Australia) where
rabbits abound and constitute a veritable scourge my apparatus may be of great
assistance in the destruction of such animals.
In order that it may be well understood I have represented in the drawing (by
way of example only) the application of my apparatus for use in connection with
rabbits.
Referring to the drawings left with the Provisional Specification
Figure 1 shows side view of the apparatus.
Figure 2 is an end view-looking at the larger end.
Figure 3 shows same applied to the opening of a burrow and the position
which the flexible branches occupy during the passage of a rabbit through the
apparatus.
Figure 4 shows the same apparatus after the rabbit has come out of the burrow
and the position of the points preventing the rabbit from re-entering.
Figures 5 and 6 show variations in the closure of the apparatus after the passage
of the animal.
As will be seen the trap or "burrow stopper" (which may advantageously have
the conic form) is composed of wires a fixed upon the bars or hoops the extremity
of each of the wires a' is terminated by a hook c which hooks e by reason of the
bending of the wires a (which must be more or less compressed according to the
size of the holes in order to make them enter) are thus fixed to the earth etc. and
hold the trap or snare when it has been placed in the opening of a burrow.
A stem d is to be forced into the ground (if required) to give more firmness to
the apparatus.
The free ends a' of the wires are of a smaller diameter and in addition to being
free are also flexible and after the passage of the animal they close in such a
manner as to form an obstacle to the return of the animal which wants to re-enter
its burrow as shown in Figures 1 to 4.
I may for example replace the wires a¹ by a door e (Fig. 5) which closes
automatically by its own weight after the passage of the animal.
1 may also place a trapdoor f as it is shown in Figure 6 which will swing down at
the moment of the passage of the animal and close afterwards under the action of a
counter-balance weight.
To place the apparatus in the opening of a burrow a simple pressure of the
wires a which carry the hooks e suffices for the introduction and upon ceasing to
exercise the pressure the wires spring outward and endeavour to resume their
normal position and the hooks c bury themselves in the earth etc. and then the
apparatus is in place.
In order to avoid the turning over of the apparatus the part which comes in
contact with the ground is flat and the point d further secures stability as previously
explained.
I wish it to be understood that I do not wish to limit myself to the exact forms,
dimensions, materials and details of the apparatus without in any respect changing
the principle of my invention which consists entirely in the novel arrangement
construction and application of the snare not to imprison the game but on the
contrary to keep it outside its burrow or the like.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I'
claim is:-
1. The employment at the entrance of a burrow of a game trap or "burrow

page_text: "
stopper constructed of wires a each ending in a hook cat one end in combination
with supporting bar or bars or hoops b a prong d thereon and also movable wires a¹
thereon the free ends of which permit the animal to pass out and come together
again after the animal has passed out in such a manner as to constitute an effectual
obstacle to the re-entry of the animal into the burrow substantially as hereinbefore
described and illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawings.
C
2. In a game trap or "burrow stopper" the combination of wires provided with
hooks e and fixed on bars or hoops with a door e which closes again automatically
after the animal has passed out substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated
in Fig. 5 of the drawings.
C
3. In a game trap or burrow stopper the combination of wires provided with
hooks c and fixed on bars or hoops & with a flap ƒ which tips over at the instant of
the exit of the animal and is closed again by the action of a counterweight
substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawings.
Dated this 10th day of August 1893.
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
34, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lanc, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.