710 



face. The bait: a fish, frog, head of a Pheasant, Tur- 

 ke.v or ChioUen, stciiled with nil of anise, and liung 

 about two feet and a half above tlie trap. The 'Coon 

 can al.so be caiiicht in tho^ V-sliaped pen trap, with bait 

 scented with oil of anise, and placed far back in the 

 pen and the trap covered over at entrance. 



SOME METHODS OF DESTROYING RATS. 



Eats are found in all sections of the State, and thi- 

 damage thej- do in the poultry yard, besides commit- 

 ting great injuries in other ways, is frequently far 

 greater than that done by all other preying animals. 



Rats are particularly cautious, which, in conjunc- 

 tion with tlieir remarkable cunning, oftentimes make 

 if a difticulT and, at times, almost an impossible ta.sk 

 to catch or destroy them. 



Comnion house cats, like Weasels, that often live 

 about barns and other out-buildings, frequently do 

 great service in ridding tlie places of both Rats and 

 Mice, but sometimes both the cat and Weasel will kill 

 chickens. The Weasel, when it begins to destroy 

 ])Oultry, spares neither old or young and in a short 

 liiiic will slay n great number. Some farmers say 

 Iht-y like to have AA'easels live about their barns and 

 haystacks, but when these animals fre(iueiit sinli 

 ])laces the poultry is ahvays in more or less daii^i-r of 

 lieing attacked. 



SHooTiNr;. 

 The writer has for several years past been al)le, 

 with the aid of a shot gun, to drive Rats aw-ay from his 

 piemises. w-here, at ii'regular intervals, they came 

 from neighboring buildings. About eight years ago 

 the stable at mv home was literallv overrun with 



