56 Precautions — Doss. 



(S) 



night, of the greater part of most valuable 

 stocks of poultry, the breed and excellence 

 of which, it took me several seasons to re- 

 cover. In the first place, these small build- 

 ings should be made substantial, for on one 

 occasion, my locks being good, the thieves 

 made their way by wrenching open an an- 

 gle of the building. In addition to sub- 

 stantial locks and hinges, bells hung upon 

 the inside of the doors, or upon any part 

 liable to be shaken, are good precautions, 

 since the noise may deter the thieves, even 

 if it fail to alarm the family. But the most 

 certain security is that kind of vermin cur, 

 generally kept by country labourers. Seve- 

 ral such should be enkennelled in the poul- 

 try court, and taught to bark, being equal- 

 ly useful against robbers and vermin. No- 

 thing can charm and quiet the tongues of 

 real good latratores, or barkers, and more 

 particularly when several of them are to- 

 gether. 



A plan like the above, will obviously re- 

 quire the exclusive services of one or more 



