"In laying the long arm of the lever against the stake sufficient play
must be allowed for the contraction of the black string, when wet by dew
or rain.
"If a double gun is set, two stakes and two levers will be required. The
stakes to be connected above and below the gun, by cross sticks. The
levers must be passed round the combs the opposite way, to allow of the
long arms pressing outwards from the gun, and enable the levers to
disengage without entangling.
"The carcase or live bait must be hedged round, and means adopted to
guide the leopard across the string, by running out a short hedge on one
side. In this case the black line to be set taut, and some 4 inches from
the line of fire. The breast than catches the string, and the push
releases the hammer when the muzzle is in line with the chest.
"On this principle, two or more guns can be set, slightly varying in
elevation, to allow of one barrel at least being effective."
Bow and Arrow set for Beasts.--The Chinese have some equivalent
contrivance with bows and arrows. M. Huc tells us that a simply
constructed machine is sold in the shops, by which, when sprung, a number
of poisoned arrows are fired off in succession. These machines are
planted in caves of sepulture, to guard them from pillage. They use
spring-guns, and used to have spring-bows in Sweden, and in many other
countries.
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