Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 3 (1899).djvu/340

314 substituted Wood Pigeons for Rabbits, and the 'vermin birds' once more fell victims." It is not related how long this bait sufficed. Eimer relates that, requiring Sparrows for the zootomical studies of his students, he procured a new and ingeniously constructed trap. "The result of the use of my trap was surprising; almost immediately quite a dozen Sparrows were caught in it. These were brought away as carefully as possible, so that none were taken out in sight of their companions. The trap was again set, and this time nine Sparrows were caught equally quickly. I was very pleased with the invention, for it seemed likely to put an end for the future to all my difficulties. But it was to be otherwise. I noticed already that all the Sparrows caught were young birds, hatched the same spring, and therefore of little experience. Not a single old Sparrow had entered the trap. And when I set it for the third time, not one Sparrow went into it—it stood for week after week; the yard was full of Sparrows, but I caught no more. However, I looked forward confidently to the next year—then I thought, young Sparrows will get caught again; and about two dozen would have been enough material for my purpose. But I had reckoned without the intelligence of the Sparrows. When I got out the trap again next year, and had it set, not a Sparrow went into it. But a curious spectacle was observed: apparently several Sparrows had the desire and the intention to go into the trap, and these were obviously the young inexperienced birds which had been hatched since the trap was last set; but others, of course the older birds who had learnt the danger of the wire-basket from the loss of their families, kept them back by constant earnest warnings, for the males, as soon as one of the yellow beaks approached the cage, uttered their warning cry most loudly, the cry which they always make when danger is present, and which consists in a long shrill rattling 'r-r-r-r-r.'" It is well known to poachers that when once a Hare has been netted, there is no chance of its being taken again in like manner. Rather than go through a second time, even though a "lurcher" be but a yard behind, it will either "buck" the gate, or take the