i62 GUNS 



district, that he would now and then get a rabbit as 

 it squatted in its form, crying out loudly after this 

 deed, for the benefit of his neighbours, '' Eighty 

 yards ! eighty yards ! Going like a bullet, and I cut 

 'un over pretty." His rabbits were extremely limp 

 as a rule, and no wonder, considering the short 

 range at which he fired down on them. 



So we must not take the rabbit too soon in ferret- 

 ing in the covert ; but we must not wait too long, 

 otherwise the stems of underwood and the under- 

 growth will shelter him effectually. 



Both gunners and ferreters must keep back from 

 the mouths of the holes, lest the rabbit, catching 

 sight of them, return precipitately, and be killed by 

 the ferret underground. 



The best days for covert ferreting, in my opinion, 

 are fine and still, or fairly still. On a wet day there 

 may be more rabbits lying underground, but it is 

 not so pleasant waiting for them in the dripping 

 woods ; on a roaring day one cannot hear the 

 rabbits, and it is more difficult to dig down upon 

 them in case the ferret kills them in the burrow. 



Rules to bear in mind in ferreting in covert 

 are : — Do not have your gun to your shoulder and 

 pointed towards the hole out of which you expect 

 the rabbit to come ; take care that your companion 

 is close behind or crouching close at your side ; 

 keep perfect silence ; do not put your gun at full- 

 cock till the ferret is in, and your companion has 

 crept up behind or beside you ; do not take a 

 snapshot at the rabbit directly he appears outside 



