368 Practical Game Preserving. 



that any evidence of a gin being set be quite unobservable, 

 there is nothing more to add. The stake, however, must 

 not be driven straight down into the earth, but at sufficient 

 angle to prevent its being drawn up when the chain is 

 pulled at ; the reason for this divergence we will presently 

 mention. Too much handling of the gin, &c., is not 

 advisable, and the quicker and more neatly the whole 

 operation of setting is effected, and the less scent left, the 

 better the chance of a catch. 



When a bait is considered necessary, the best sort to 

 employ is a freshly-killed rabbit ; one that has died a 

 natural death should not be used, as it will have no 

 attraction at all for the fox, and one jagged and torn 

 by any other animal should also be rejected. There are 

 two or three ways of using a dead rabbit as a bait, the 

 most general being to simply lay it on the ground in some 

 place where it might naturally lie if dead, and well in view 

 of any fox passing. Its presence must further be hidden, 

 to some extent, from the exceedingly quick sight of 

 magpies, for should any be flying over, and catch a glimpse 

 of the bait, they are almost certain to fly down, and, while 

 endeavouring to pick out the eyes and otherwise regale 

 themselves on the rabbit, get into difficulties with the 

 traps, and " spoil the whole thing" in the proverbial manner. 



Having put in position the rabbit, which should, if it lie 

 on a slant, be back downwards, proceed to set the traps 

 not exactly touching the rabbit, but at a distance of from 

 three to four inches from it ; one above, towards the hinder 

 part of the rabbit, and one below, about half-way along. 

 The coney may be laid out at full length, and if it can be 



