THE STOAT 131 



away when hit hard with shot. Destructive to game, especially 

 ground game and poultry, it is vermin to the game -preserver and 

 poultry-farmer, while to the forester, grazier, and gardener it is 

 regarded as among the deadliest and most persevering enemies 

 of small rodents. Albeit, the stoat's visits to a henroost and dove- 

 cote entirely transforms the friend into the enemy, and the opinion 

 of doing quite as much good as harm changes to doing some good, 

 but not nearly sufficient to counteract the harm. 



FIG. 82. RUN-TRAP IN IMPROVED DRAINS. 



The best way to take the polecat and stoat is to make false 

 drains as described under weasel, using a Run-trap, Fig. 82, sup- 

 plied by Mr. H. Lane, Eagle Works, Wednesfield, Staffordshire, 

 with 2j in. or 3 in. jaws. By the side of a brook or ditch is 

 a good locality for placing these traps, no covering or bait being 

 required. As both the polecat and stoat take up their abode in 

 holes in rocks or. an old burrow, traps should be set at the mouth, 

 or so far in as can be reached to peg the trap down. This will 



