26 Studies in Rat Catching, [ch. ii. 



home I like taking a snack at Swindon 

 Station, just to divert my mind from the 

 racketing of the train and the thought of the 

 hsu-d seat. When you get home, give the 

 ferrets a rat for every two of them, if you 

 can afford it, for then they need only eat the 

 best joints. If you have not many dead rats 

 and want to save some for the morrow, one 

 rat for three ferrets is enough for twenty-four 

 hours ; but don't forget to give them water 

 or milk. 



I think I have said enough as to the 

 management of ferrets, and will go on to 

 speak of the necessary tools. The chief 

 thing is a good ratting spade. What the 

 musket is to the soldier, the spade is to the 

 rat-catcher. You may get on without it, but 

 you won't do much killing. I have tried 

 many shapes, but the one I like best is on 

 the pattern of the above drawing. It should 

 not be too heavy, but yet strong ; and, there- 



