Ground Vermin Taking Badgers. 341 



pushing it into the hole, and securing the edges of its 

 mouth all round the outside by means of good strong and 

 reliable pegs. As soon as this is satisfactorily completed, 

 one should go off with the dogs, which will soon take up 

 the scent, but, being steady, are easily followed, until 

 they find and turn the badger, when he immediately makes 

 for home, and would comfortably reach his retreat but 

 for the sacks impeding his progress. Directly the badger 

 enters, the one who has been watching concealed at the 

 burrow must run out and secure the mouth of the sack. 

 It is advisable to remark that unless the bags are strong 

 enough the impetuosity of the badger's retreat will probably 

 take it through the end of the one which should retain it. 

 This, as far as it goes, is by no means a bad way of 

 taking badgers, and there is always some excitement allied 

 with it. On occasions the brock will manage to get out 

 of the bag before one has time to secure it, and to counter- 

 act this eventuality it is a good plan for the person 

 remaining at the earth to keep a terrier by his side, which 

 can, by attacking the retreating brock, cause it to stop 

 until its capture may be safely effected. 



A modification of this plan of capturing badgers has 

 been practised with success, but, as will be seen, some 

 experience in handling the animal is required. Instead of 

 two persons only one is necessary, and he should be 

 accompanied by a sheepdog, which must, of course, be 

 up to this kind of work. Having got upon the scent of 

 the brock, and found it, the dog, instead of attacking 

 the ear, flies at the rear of the animal, and while it is 

 constantly turning round to retaliate one must, by keeping 



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