The Wild Rabbit Warrens. 185 



As to the means employed to effect the capture of the 

 stock, we may with advantage say a few words. They 

 consist invariably of either or all of the following : trapping, 

 snaring, netting those bolted by ferrets, and another mode, 

 of netting of a more extensive kind, into a description of 

 which we shall enter presently. As to the first three modes, 

 we need say no more than that the uninitiated may find 

 full descriptions as to the various processes in " Practical 

 Trapping;" we may add that an effective and cheap trap 

 has at length been invented, which, for most purposes, is 

 quite applicable, and is, moreover, quite humane, as it 

 kills the rabbit caught outright.*" 



When netting is used as a means of taking large quantities 

 of rabbits, considerable discretion is required. The first 

 requisite is a large net of about fifty yards long by three to 

 four feet wide. This is rolled up or collected at one side of 

 one of the extensive rows of burrows of an artificial warren. 

 The rabbits which tenant them are then allowed to leave 

 their burrows and to feed out to some distance. This 

 invariably takes place between sunset and sunrise. As 

 soon as the coneys are sufficiently distant the net is extended 

 and held partly suspended in front of the foremost holes, 

 in such manner that a foot or two of its folds lie upon the 

 ground. Some persons then proceed to such portion of 

 the warren as may be deemed advisable, and drive the 

 rabbits in the direction of the net into which they unwittingly 

 run and have not the sagacity to retire from. Others 

 meanwhile proceed to catch and kill all those entangled. 



* Messrs. Bayliss, Jones and Bayliss, Queen Victoria-street, London, are the 

 manufacturers. They call it the Douglass Trap. 



