312 THE WILD RABBET. 



In stocking a warren,, whether flat or hilly, arti- 

 ficial burrows are at first made, in order to preserve 

 the Rabbets from the attacks of vermin, till they 

 can have time to dig their own. These burrows 

 are formed with an augur, of a diameter about 

 equal to the thickness of the animal's body ; 

 and in level warrens, they may often be found 

 useful. 



The accuracy of persons taking stock, upon the 

 warren farms, betwixt an incoming and outgoing 

 tenant, is very surprising. They attend, for some 

 days, the appearance of the Rabbets, near the 

 mouths of their burrows, in the dusk of the even- 

 ing, and at day-light in the morning. The judg- 

 ment formed, from this ocular inspection, of the 

 apparent number, is said to be so well calculated, 

 that, upon the destruction of many warrens, it has 

 been found within very few of the real quantity. 



In most warrens, the Rabbets are killed by 

 means of Ferrets, which, on being put, muzzled, 

 into the burrows, drive the animals into nets that 

 are placed over the outlets. A Lurcher Dog is 

 sometimes used for the same purpose ; and it is 

 said that the sounding of a trumpet in the holes 

 will drive them out. The wold warreners catch 

 Rabbets with three different kinds of implements; 

 fold nets, spring nets, and a species of trap called 

 tipes. The fold nets are set, about midnight, be- 

 tween the burrows and the feeding grounds; the 

 Rabbets being driven into them with Dogs, and 



kept 



