51/531

This is a spring jawed rabbit trap made of steel. When the rabbit pressed down on the spring plate, the serrated jaws would open and then close with force on the rabbit’s leg when the plate was released.

1 rabbit trap: metal (steel); good condition- slightly worn

MERL 'Catalogue index' card – 'The origin of this trap is unknown. It consists of a flat steel bottom piece 13 inches in length and .7 inches in width. The front is upturned, and into the pair of holes found there are fixed the two ends of the semicircular shaped jaws. The back of the jaws are fixed onto an upright projection 5 inches from the front. The sprung top shaft is 7 inches long and is riveted 1.5 inches from the back of the bottom shaft. A square metal piece encloses the two steel bars and acts as an extra hold when the trip is set. The platform has been worn away in part, but the metal clip holding the platfrodm [sic] in place when the trip is set is still in place. // See also 51/533L.', Lavinia Smith No. 388., 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)'

Rippon, Miss Dorothy May Lyddon (Agent)