LETTER XII. 



YOU wish to know, How my warren-hares are 

 caught ? They are caught in traps, not unlike 

 to the common rat-traps. I leave mine always at 

 the meuses ; but they are set only when hares are 

 wanted : the hares, by thus constantly going through 

 them, have no mistrust, and are easily caught. These 

 traps should be made of old wood ; and even then it 

 will be some time before they will venture through 

 them. Other meuses must be also left open, lest a 

 distaste should make them forsake the place. To 

 my warren I have about twenty of these traps ; 

 though, as the stock of hares is great, I seldom have 

 occasion to set more than five or six, and scarcely 

 ever fail of catching as many hares. The warren 

 is paled in ; but I found it necessary to make the 

 meuses of brick ; that is, where the traps are placed. 

 Should you at any time wish to make a hare-warren, 

 it will be necessary for you to see one first, and 

 examine the traps, boxes, and stoppers ; to all which 

 there are particularities not easy to be described. 

 Should you perceive the hares, toward the end of the 

 season, to become shy of the traps, from having been 

 often caught, it will be necessary to drive them in 

 with spaniels. Should this be the case, you will find 



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