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Kingfishers were caught either in nets, or in gin traps like this. Kingfisher feathers were used to decorate hats and their dried carcases were hung in wardrobes to keep away moths, or hung from ceilings to serve as weathercocks.

MERL 'Catalogue index' card – 'In the past there was a large demand for kingfishers for various purposes. Their feathers were used to adorn hats and the carcases, when dried, were hung in wardrobes to keep away moths or suspended from the ceiling by threads to serve as weathercocks. They were caught both by nets and gin traps. // This is a round gin trap, made of steel. It measures 2.5 inches in diameter.', Lavinia Smith No. 386. (?), Lavinia Smith Catalogue (D60/28) - 'A list of the contents of the East Hendred museum. July 5 1940 // 386-391. Six old traps (rat and rabbit)', Object research project, Further Afield, February 2024 - In the past there was a large demand for kingfishers for various purposes. Their feathers were used to adorn hats and the carcases, when dried, were hung in wardrobes to keep away moths or suspended from the ceiling by threads to serve as weathercocks

Trap, kingfisher, Trap, gin

Rippon, Miss Dorothy May Lyddon (Agent)