2O2 Practical Game Preserving. 



prevent slipping beneath the throat. This mode of coping 

 is the best and surest, and, after a few trials, it may be put 

 on so effectually that it will remain all day, although not tied 

 by any means tight enough to inconvenience the animal in 

 its work. 



The leather muzzles and collars sold for ferrets are worse 

 than useless. Of bells we have much the same opinion. 

 The only time a bell may be useful though it seldom is is 

 when a ferret lies up in a hedgerow, as occasionally the 

 tinkling may guide one to the right spot whereat to com- 

 mence its excavation. Of working ferrets with a line, what- 

 ever be the soil, we have an equally poor opinion, as not 

 only is it prejudicial to speedy bolting of the rabbits, but the 

 fact of the ferret tugging along a heavy weight of string, 

 often multiplied by the irregular formation of the burrow, 

 is simply handicapping it against the rabbit, and retarding 

 its movements. 



" Lying-up " is the bugbear of ferreting. Its mention re- 

 minds one of wearisome hours of waiting by the hedge-side 

 and in the warren for the ferret which does not show itself, 

 and the rabbit which will not bolt. Many have "wrinkles" 

 which will bring out a ferret "like a shot" if the ferret thinks 

 proper to be brought out but, apart from the many expe- 

 dients often tried, we may mention a little preparation which 

 has often gladdened the hearts of those who, like ourselves, 

 have tried it on a lying-up ferret. Obtain some thick, rough 

 brown paper, or, if possible, some of that grey paper toy 

 shops invariably have a good supply of, and cut it in lengths 

 of about i ft. by 2in. wide. Then mix together and pound in 

 a mortar some saltpetre, in the proportion of twelve parts 



