152 THE RABBIT 



for that reason, especially if not far distant from 

 woods and consequently overrun with rabbits. 



Rabbits are not easily dislodged in rain, for they 

 avoid getting wet as much as possible ; they bolt best 

 when it is dry and still. Nor will a poacher who 

 means ferreting choose a windy night (though it is 

 otherwise when he is after pheasants), for he has to 

 depend a great deal on his sense of hearing to know 

 when a rabbit is moving in the ' bury,' and where it 

 is likely to bolt, so as to lay hold of it the moment it 

 is in the net. 



Poachers who use ferrets prefer white ones for 

 night work, as they are more easily seen, and are not 

 so likely to be picked up by a dog in mistake for a 

 rabbit, although poachers' dogs as a rule are generally 

 too well trained to make such mistakes. Keepers 

 are only too glad to get hold of poachers' ferrets when 

 they can, for they are almost certain to be good ones. 



The favourite implement, however, with rabbit 

 poachers is, no doubt, the wire snare. This is 

 easily carried about in the pocket, to be set as occasion 

 or opportunity may arise, and is easily removed.' 

 It is otherwise with nets, which usually require the 



' Several instances have been reported in which two rabbits 

 have been caught in one snare, either by the legs, or one by 

 the leg the other by the neck. See The Field, April 2 and 7, 

 1892, and January 30, 1897. 



