Ground Vermin The Fox in Pursuit. 375 



methodical nature of the action, he is palpably wanting 

 in real intelligence. 



However, to discover at what point the fox enters a certain 

 field, the best plan is first to make close investigation of 

 the bank on each side of one and all the gates, more 

 particularly on the inner side of the hedgerow, and also upon 

 the top. If one be at the correct place, and has fortunately 

 struck the point of the varmint's ingress, careful and minute 

 search should reveal the tracks, easily distinguishable from 

 any others, while probably some droppings lately deposited 

 upon the top of the hedge will prove the correctness of 

 the opinion. 



It is not in every case that the fox enters the field in 

 proximity to a gateway, but rather chooses one or two places 

 as eminently suitable from which first to take a look round, 

 when, if any prey be close to it, it proceeds to such spot 

 and pursues its way accordingly. In the event of there 

 being a large rabbit burrow, or perhaps a hare or so feeding, 

 not to mention pheasants, it will assuredly shape its course 

 in that direction, and suddenly appear to the alarmed 

 animals from that point ; but, under ordinary circumstances, 

 it more often than not passes into the field over the hedge 

 adjoining one or other of the gates, and quits it at a similar 

 point. 



Having determined to one's own satisfaction the places 

 of ingress and egress, the next thing is to set the gins 

 with a view to catch the wily animal, commencing at 

 the gateways, by placing one upon that particular spot 

 from which it seems most probable the fox will spring 

 on to the hedge. The place will not be more than about 



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