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many were killed by it, that my houfe and barns 

 became very difagrceable by the fmell of them 

 when dead. 



To prevent this inconvenience, I then endea- 

 voured to take them alive. To effect this pur- 

 pofc, I trailed toafted cheefeand red herrings from 

 their holes into an empty room, where 1 placed 

 oatmeal and other forts of food they are moll fond 

 of, and permitted them to eat it without inter- 

 ruption. On finding, from their not being mo- 

 tefled, that their numbers increafed, I fet a large 

 box into this room with its fide downward, and 

 the lid being lifted up, was fufpended in that 

 pofition by a firing run through, or over a pully 

 in the deling, the end of which was placed within 

 reach, when a fufficient number were eating in 

 the box, in which I placed oatmeal and fuch other 

 food as they are fond of. At firfl they entered 

 the box with caution, but in three or four nights 

 they went in boldly, and would eat there like pigs 

 at a trough. It being moonlight, I watched them 

 one evening, and having painted the infide of the 

 box white, I could eafiiy difcover when it was 

 full ; the fifth night, on pulling the firing, I let 

 down the lid upon them, which being loaded with 

 a large Hone to prevent their pufhing it open, I 

 fecured upwards of fixty at once; and repeating 



the 



