378 Practical Game Preserving. 



plantations wherein foxes abound certain places along 

 the hedge lying well open to the sun and commanding a 

 fair view of the field, to which a fox may often resort in 

 the early morning, either for the purpose of capturing a 

 rabbit from a burrow at hand, or simply with a view to air 

 himself. In some instances a varmint may come to this 

 spot morning after morning in summer time, and even 

 gambol and play about on the top of the bank for some 

 time. As evidence of this, the presence of copious 

 droppings will be apparent, when one, two, or three gins 

 may be skilfully placed in the spots most likely to secure 

 the vermin. 



Fields surrounded by hedgerows, the latter plentifully 

 supplied with rabbit burrows, are often very favourite 

 haunts of the fox when in search of a meal. Under these 

 circumstances it forbears to disturb the at all times easily 

 alarmed conies until they are well out, busily intent upon 

 either their supper or breakfast, as the case may be. As 

 soon as the favourable moment has arrived, Reynard enters 

 the field either with a rush at some spot certain to provide 

 him with one rabbit out of the many he knows to be feeding 

 within a few yards from his place of entrance, or else comes 

 over the hedge gently and without being observed, and 

 slinking round the field quietly, and, if possible, unnoticed, 

 he waits his opportunity to pick up a bunny as neatly and 

 quickly as he can, and either consumes it where he is, or 

 bears it off to safer and less conspicuously situated parts. 

 No doubt on many occasions anyone having risen at a rather 

 earlier hour than usual in order to take a saunter round 

 the place, gun in hand, hoping to knock over a brace or so of 



