CH. II.] The Ratting Spade. 25 



fore, the handle should be made of a good 

 piece of ash, and the other parts of the best 

 tempered steel, and the edge should be sharp 

 enough to cut quickly through a thick root. 

 The spike should be sharp, so as easily to 

 enter the ground and feel for a lost hole. 

 This will constantly save a long dig and 

 much time ; besides, one can often bolt a rat 

 by a few well-directed prods in a soft bank 

 — not that I approve of this, as there may be 

 more than one rat in the hole, and by prod- 

 ding out one you are contented to leave 

 others behind. No, I think the ferret should 

 go down every hole challenged by the dogs, 

 as then you are pretty sure of making a clean 

 job of it. 



Besides the spade, I have always kept a 

 few trap boxes. These are to catch a ferret 

 should one lay up and have to be left behind. 

 I bait them with a piece of rat and place 

 them at the mouth of the hole, and it is rare 



