is an open loop, an inch long: but at the other end there remains, plaited or unplaited, strips of rind for the purpose of fastening. For setting the noose a little stem is selected; a hole is bored, and the noose with the eye is hung to the twig; the opposite end is then fixed to the tree, and the three horse-hair nooses are opened. The baiting food, of service berries, is hung up in slits cut in the little stem is placed conspicuously.

B. Twig Nooses (fig. 2, p. 31).-For these tough rods of willow are used, and holes or slits are made in the tree, into which the two ends are inserted, at a distance of about four inches apart, and forming a bow or semi-oval, which extends about six inches from the tree. Into the upper side of this are inserted from two to three hanging nooses of horse-hair; and in slits of the lower part service berries are hung.

c. Hanging Gin (fig. 3, p. 31).-The best consists of a rod of willow bent into a triangle, which is six inches wide at the bottom, but almost three times as high, and has the service berries fixed at the bottom, and one noose at each side. They are useful to fix to trees, to shrubs, and in hedges, and are hung by the upper acute angle to a twig.

Many birds are cunning enough to detect these snares set for them, and contrive to carry off the berries without being snared. To avoid this, the following, called the Entire Twig Gin, (fig. 4), is useful :

:

A stick of tough willow, about the thickness of the little finger, is bent over the knee, or in the hands, into a long oval, cracking it eight inches from the thick end; cut the thin edge into a wedge, and at two inches from the thick end make a slit, sticking the opposite end into the slit, so that it passes slightly through it: the bow is thus made oval. The upper bowed part is pierced through with a sharp pointed knife, and the nooses are passed through these with the berries hanging at the bottom. Beneath, near the berries, towards the side, two other nooses are inserted, and so fixed that the berries lie between them, but rather sideways, and it will be found that more birds will be captured in the lower

nooses than in the upper ones. gins is similar to the preceding.

The breadth and height of these

In fixing all these kinds of gins particular care must be taken that the hair noose stands straight, which may be effected by dipping them frequently in boiling water whilst making them; further, that they exactly fit each other, and have no vacant space through which the birds can pass with their heads.

These gins can be used for several years, if taken care of after the close of the season, and the nooses folded round in a large circle, or hung up lengthways extended.

2. OF SPRINGES.-With these, birds are caught by the leg and not by the head, as in the noose. There are two kinds

Genuine Springes (fig. 5, p. 31).- A hazel or willow rod is taken, a half oval notch cut in the thick end, and a hole bored through, and to the thinner end a horse-hair or thread is attached, and passed through the hole so that the notch is in front; a peg of wood of about half an inch, or a bit of felt, is fixed to it that it cannot escape. In setting it, the thread or hair is passed through the hole for about eighteen inches, and into the hole is put a peg, which holds a knot tied in the thread; spread it over the nooses, and fix them firmly in a slit on account of the wind. This springe is hung by a little slit in a thick twig, so that it cannot oscillate, and in front of it is placed a sprig with berries, which must be service berries if it is wished to catch large birds, but elder berries if smaller ones. When the bird steps upon the springe it falls down, the legs get into the noose, and the springe flies back and holds it firmly fixed.

As thread nooses frequently hang limp, especially after rain, which prevents the bird's leg from getting into the springe, to remedy this a blade of grass is taken, fixed between, and thus they are kept open.

The so-called Up-Springe (fig. 6, p. 31), is made like ordinary springes, excepting they are not all of one piece. Thus a piece of stick of the thickness of the thumb, or thicker, and varying in length, is stuck into the ground, or a similar stem growing in the ground is used; you then cut the notch and bore the hole as

before directed; the slip-knot is passed through the hole, and fastened to a snapper or spring, which is drawn down from a neighbouring hedge, bush, or tree, and the nooses fixed as before. The springe is usually set in this way in Thuringia and other parts of Germany.

Not to be troubled with too much baggage, and the better to convey the captured birds, bird-cages are so made that they can be folded together and carried in the pocket. But only such birds can be so treated as are not of a wild character, as Goldfinches, Siskins, Linnets, &c. Others, for instance, the Common Finch, Larks, &c., are very wild when caught, and must be placed either in a linen bag or in a bag of net into which a cover of felt is inserted. When arrived at home the wilder kinds should be hung up in the dark, and covered over with branches of leaves, or a cloth to prevent their injuring themselves or spoiling their plumage. A little observation however, will show the best practice to adopt, which is not the same in its application to every species.

L-THE CANARY FINCH.-Fringilla Canaria.

THIS most highly and deservedly valued of all cage songsters is not a native bird; although from its long domestication and breeding amongst us, we have become accustomed to consider it as such. It is said to have been brought originally from the Canary Isles; and the manner of its introduction into Europe. at the commencement of the sixteenth century, is thus related

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