l-rounded hooplike "crowns" (23) with
alternate rows of nails of wood and iron woven into the coil. (24) The
iron nails should be larger, so that while the wooden ones yield to the
foot, the others may press into it. (25) The noose of the cord which
will be laid upon "the crown" should be woven out of esparto and so
should the rope itself, this kind of grass being least liable to rot.
The rope and noose itself should both alike be stout. The log or clog of
wood attached should be made of common or of holm oak with the bark on,
three spans in length, and a palm in thickness. (26)

(19) {podostrabai}, podostrabai so called. Cf. "the boot."

(20) {en tais diodois}, "at points where paths issue," or "cross."

(21) {pros o ti prosie}, "against whatever they are likely to
approach."

(22) Or, "should be woven out of Smilax"; "Ebenholz," Lenz; "Ifs,"
Gail.

(23) {tas de stephanas euk. ekh.} "having circular rims."

(24) {en to plokano} (al. {plokamo}) = the plaited rope, which formed
the {stephane}. See Pollux, v. 32, ap. Schneid. and Lenz.

(25) Al. "so as to press into the foot, if the wooden ones yield."

(26) Or, "27 inches x 3."

To set the trap, dig a hole in the soil to a depth of fifteen inches,
(27) circular in shape, with a circumference at the top exactly
corresponding to the crown and narrowing towards the bottom. For the
rope and wooden clog likewise remove sufficient earth to let them both
be lightly buried. That done, place the foot-gin deep enough to be just
even with the surface of the soil, (28) and round the circle of the
crown the cord-noose. The cord itself and wooden clog must now be
lowered into their respective places. Which done, place on the crown
some rods of spindle-tree, (29) but not so as to stick out beyond the
outer rim; and above these again light leaves, such as the season may
provide. After this put a final coating of earth upon the leaves; in the
first place the surface soil from the holes just dug, and atop of that
some unbroken solid earth from a distance, so that the lie of the trap
may be as much as possible unnoticed by the deer. Any earth left over
should be carried to a distance from the gin. The mere smell of the
newly-turned-up soil will suffice to make the animal suspicious; (30)
and smell it readily she will.

(27) Or, "remove a mass of soil to the depth of five palms so as to
form a circular hole corresponding in size with the rim above-
n