QUADKUPEDS. 



suffer from the ravages of these pests to apply then-wolves energeti- 

 cally to the task of getting^rid of them, they would not, certainly, 

 be wholly exterminated, but would become so reduced in numbers 

 as to be no longer formidable cease, in short, to occupy a position 

 among the " Pests of the Farm." 



There are two methods by which rats can be effectually destroyed 

 TRAPS and POISON. Some writers have recommended the 

 former ; others have been in favor of the latter. My own experi- 

 ence induces me to state, that neither is to be adopted to the exclu- 

 sion of the other, both being equally good under certain circum- 

 stances ; it must, however, be admitted, that trapping is only suited 

 to instances where the vermin are few in number; where they swarm, 

 wholesale measures must be resorted to, and the trapping of indi- 

 viduals would be idle and useless. When traps are to be em- 

 ployed a small steel spring-trap, similar to that which I have de- 

 scribed when treating of the wild cat, &c., but of course much 

 smaller, is that -to be preferred. It must be washed after each cap- 

 ture, and the person who sets it should disguise the natural odor 



of his person, by using a little 



malt, impregnated slightly 

 with a mixture of equal parts 

 of the oils of rhodium and 

 caraway. The proportions are 

 1 part of the mixed oils to 

 5,000 parts of malt. A por- 

 tion of this should be rubbed 

 between the hands at each 

 manipulation ; tkis is one ot 

 the great secrets of profession- 

 al rat-catchers. The above is one of the most attractive baits for 



* rats that can be used, and may 

 be either employed in baiting 

 traps, or in acting as a vehicle for 

 using poison. There is another 

 very good description of trap, 

 already described, open at both 

 ends, the doors closing on the 

 J rats running upon a bridge in the 

 middle. We have endeavored 

 to explain the construction of this 

 trap in the three accompanying wood-cuts, the two first of 



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