Bird 'cradle'

"This bird cradle was used in former times to trap small birds, usually in the Winter when there was snow on the ground. The 'cradle' was made of boortree (boothree, elder) and sally. A space was cleared and the bird cradle placed within. On entering the trap was sprung by a very clever triggering system and the bird captured. Maurice O'Sullivan in 'Twenty Years a-Growing' described small groups of two and three going out to catch thrushes on the Great Blasket at Hallowe'en. When they came back from their hunting trip the catch was, 'all thrown out on the table, and when everyone had added his share there were a hundred. "Let's all begin plucking now", said Shamus O'Donlevy. 'We began plucking the feathers, all except my sisters, Maura and Eileen, Kate O'Shea and Kate Peg, who were busy roasting and washing plates.' "