THE DORMOUSE 151 



of a trap a sweet chestnut, acorn, or filbert, and partly out of the 

 ground. Observe when the bait disappears and then set the trap, 

 a hole being bored in the bait and a string passed so as to secure 

 to the table of the trap. Carefully conceal the trap, only leaving 

 the bait partly exposed. 



To capture squirrel alive the Alfred Clifford Patent Trap may 

 be used, securing to a large horizontally disposed branch, baiting 

 on the floor and tying the doors so that they remain open. Prac- 

 tice this until the squirrels take to the trap and bait and then properly 

 set the trap. If inconvenient to place on a tree, the trap may be used 

 on the ground, some bait being used to attract the squirrels to the 

 vicinity of the trap. 



Open trapping of vermin is generally objected to, as a pheasant 

 or a domestic fowl is just as likely to peck at the bait and be caught 

 by the head as a squirrel, hence shooting is more commonly prac- 

 tised, premiums being offered on estates for their tails. At Cawdor, 

 Altyre, as many as 1,164 squirrels have been shot in a season (1867) 

 on Lord Cawdor 's estate. The gunner needs to be an expert shot 

 and so fire as not to damage the tree, especially in main stem or 

 leading growth. A terrier dog is very useful, as it runs the scent 

 to the trees the squirrels have gone up and barks very keenly, giving 

 notice to the gunner in search of them. 



Squirrels may be poisoned by making a cut in a sweet chestnut 

 or acorn and inserting in the wound a few grains of strychnine, and 

 then closing together again. This, however, is not a safe practice ; 

 indeed, it is extremely dargerous to pheasants and poultry, also 

 to human beings, especially children, besides, the use of poison 

 incautiously and outdoors is not legal. 



DORMOUSE. These animals must be regarded in the same cate- 

 gory as squirrels, being injurious to the forester, and also to the 

 nut and fruit grower, the damage they inflict in woods and orchards 

 being similar to that of squirrels, but in less degree. Under favour- 

 able circumstances dormice increase with great rapidity, therefore 

 active measures must be taken to keep them in check. The mar- 

 ten is their great natural enemy, but this friend of the forester, 

 grazier and cereal crop farmer, also gardener, is practically, as the 

 adage has it, " dead as a marten." If dormice multiply unduly 

 recourse must be had to trapping, employing a smaller size trap 

 than for squirrels. The mouse or small bird trap, preferably with 

 a bow spring, baited with cheese as for mice and voles, usually suf- 

 fices to capture them by the head. If wanted caught alive, as 

 some people make pets of dormice, a box trap wiU need to be used, 

 a small size " Alfred Clifford " being very effective. 



