Ground Vermin Baits for Foxes. 371 



traps set with care and neatness, which is a very important 

 element when the catching of foxes is intended. 



When rabbits are exceptionally plentiful, and, as a conse- 

 quence easily captured by foxes, it is sometimes advisable 

 to vary the bait, and employ a fowl, duck, or some other 

 bird of large size, which will prove a superior attraction. 

 It is not necessary when one wishes to bait with a fowl 

 that it should be freshly killed, but on the contrary, any old 

 hen which has died naturally will do equally well, but 

 choose, for preference, a fowl if not quite white, at least 

 with a preponderance of white feathers. 



Having obtained the necessary bait, the next matter is 

 to select a site whereat to set the gin, and in doing this, 

 one must not forget to decide upon a place seemingly more 

 likely than any other for a fowl to be discovered at, for it 

 is quite evident that a dead hen in a covert some distance 

 from the poultry house is always something very much out 

 of the common, and likely to put Reynard on his guard. 

 The best way to lessen the unlikely appearance of the trap 

 is, when once the site for the traps is determined, to cut 

 the fowl open down the breast in as jagged a manner as 

 possible, attach a couple of yards of string to its feet, and 

 let it drag after one as soon as the covert is entered, until 

 the place is reached where it is intended to till. At this 

 point, let the feathers fly well about in all directions, then, 

 without allowing the hands to touch the bait in any way, 

 sever the string from its legs, and leave it lying at such 

 place to which it must be first drawn, and which seems 

 the most suitable site for the gins. Having arranged the 

 fowl with a stick in the position it might occupy if a hawk 



