Ground Vermin Trapping Foxes. 379 



rabbits, has been disappointed at seeing so very few, and 

 those few so wild and scary as to be unapproachable even 

 within respectful distance. This state of things is invariably 

 one of the results of a fox having made his round but a short 

 time before ; and it must be remembered that the varmint 

 travels over a great length when upon these marauding 

 rounds, so that sometimes the whole game upon a place, 

 together with the hares and rabbits, will be thrown into 

 a state of alarm, through its perambulation in pursuit of 

 a morning meal. 



In such cases, there exists in a field, perhaps, some 

 small expanse of rough brake, consisting of stones collected 

 together during the various processes of cultivation, and 

 placed indiscriminately in the very centre or at one side, 

 overgrown with brambles, gorse, and other low thick cover ; 

 or, on the other hand, several trees have been allowed 

 to grow up in a clump together towards the middle, for the 

 purpose of affording shelter. Such places are sure to be 

 visited by the varmint (more especially the first mentioned), 

 in the hope of picking up a partridge or rabbit ; and often, 

 when there is very little at any time to disturb them, 

 a fox will lie about in such spots. The outside of these 

 brakes are very suitable places for the setting of one or 

 two well placed traps, baited with a dead rabbit or the 

 like. A spot of sufficient conspicuousness should be looked 

 for where there is an even place to set the gin, with 

 a little hillock or slight knoll at the back, whereat to place 

 the bait, which should be carefully pegged down, and one, 

 two, or three traps skilfully tilled in the usual manner. 

 Foxes have by no means a dislike for crows, and if one or 



