1 82 Practical Game Preserving. 



within the view when regarded from the south-west. Exten- 

 sive warrens, however, of from 200 to 500 acres cannot be 

 obtained having all these characteristics, and they may be 

 deemed quite satisfactory if they are of sharply rising ten- 

 dency, and have their highest point in the centre or at one 

 side. Small warrens are expected to carry a larger per- 

 centage of rabbits than large ones ; and one can obtain 

 characteristics which may be regarded as desirable in con- 

 nection with warrens of from 50 to 200 acres. 



Whichever the description of warren, it will be necessary 

 to provide effectual means for confining the rabbits within the 

 limits of the domain they are intended to people. On 

 natural warrens, where there is or should be always abun- 

 dance of covert and food, the task of limiting the radius is 

 easy enough, for in most instances they will be quite satisfied 

 to remain voluntarily within the prescribed bounds. Natural 

 rabbit warrens will, however, for the most part, be sur- 

 rounded by a ring fence, or at least by a succession of hedge- 

 rows and banks equally effective ; and it will only be 

 necesssary, therefore, to discourage the formation of any 

 ramifications in these, or closely adjacent. If, however, the 

 self-willed rodents persist in attempting to pass the pre- 

 scribed limits, the constant stopping of their holes, and the 

 continual presence of a certain number of traps and snares 

 at intervals, will have a salutary effect. Notwithstanding all 

 this, it may happen that without the limit of the warren 

 enticements are presented which make the coneys pass in 

 considerable numbers what should be the limits of their 

 happy feeding ground. In such case fencing becomes neces- 

 sary, and moreover of a kind which is quite impassable. 



