Ground Vermin Baits and Drags. 287 



may be set on the inner side of the gap at the extremity 

 of the run, that is, where the run emerges from the briars ; 

 but if there is not already a track under and through the 

 stoppings, one should be made by thrusting through a good 

 sized stick along the ground ; by working it well about in a 

 skilful manner, a good and tempting passage through will be 

 formed, just the style of entrance to its neighbourhood that 

 either one or all of the favoured three would desire. 



With respect to the situations described as suitable for 

 the positions of gins, the employment of a bait has 

 been put as optional, with the exception of those placed 

 in the corner of a field. We now, however, intend speci- 

 fying places in which the use of an allurement of some 

 kind is almost necessary. 



The worst of employing gins without baits is that many 

 animals and birds, other than vermin, get caught in them, 

 but baited traps seem considerably less liable to this, 

 probably because the smell of the lure may not be so 

 enticing to those for which it is not intended. 



Though not absolutely necessary, it is a good plan at 

 all times to carry two or three raw rabbits' livers in a 

 tin box in the pocket, for the purpose of rubbing over 

 the gins and at intervals the hands of the trapper. It is 

 well known how animals can detect the recent presence 

 of man, and, as, in these members of the mustelidae, this 

 faculty is more than ordinarily acute, a varmint would be 

 very shy of the place where, besides detecting the 

 scent of human beings, it might discover any sus- 

 picious looking disturbance of the ground. But should 

 a savory whiff of rabbit liver come " floating o'er the 



