Economic Entomology Volume 15; Pamphlets (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1892 Excerpt: ...attached at one side in cut) serves as a trip bar and when the trap is set keeps the spear up and is lightly caught under a piece of iron on the trigger which latter (see Fig.) swings easily on a hinge. As shown in figure a sliding piece, pointed at the end is attached to the trigger and can be adjusted to any length-The downward pull on the spear is brought about by ii strong brass spring as shown. In setting, a branch burrow which is open is found (C. fig. 4) or one is opened with a trowel, and the spear forced down perpendicularly through (he soil, about six or eight inches from opening, so that it passes directly through the center of the burrow. The base must liesauarely on the ground The spear is then worked several times up and down through the soil, that there may be no binding when sprung. Before setting, the pointed end of the trigger is worked back and forth, to see that the soil does not impede it- movements. The point should be within an inch of Uie bottom of the mouth of burrow. A stone or heavy clod of earth is then placed on the base on each side to keep trap steady when sprung. The wooden rod is then raised, the trip bar adjusted and the trap is set. The principle is this: the gopher will sooner or later stop up this branch burrow. Or, seeing the pointed stick at his doorway, he at once proceeds to push out a lot of earth to protect his domicile from what may appear a suspicions object. The earth pressing against the trigger point," springs the trap, and the gopher, behind the earth, is speared. We have used this trap successfully against both gophers and moles. What failures we have met with have been attributed to not gauging correctly the distance between trigger and point where spear enters burrow. In one instance, when the tr...