Ground Vermin Carrying Foxes;. 389 



The forked stick being provided, it should be carried 

 when visiting the traps, and if one come upon one of the 

 varmints caught, it should be approached as near and safely 

 as the circumstances will permit, and the fork of the stick 

 pushed over the back of its neck, close behind the ears ; 

 by pushing the stick downwards, and, if necessary, into the 

 ground, the fox is easily secured in such a position as to 

 render the moving of its head, for the purpose of biting, 

 an impossibility. If the sides of the fork be not of 

 requisite length and evenness, the varmint will often manage 

 to get its head out from between them before it can be 

 secured, so that it is necessary to observe that a nicely 

 formed fork is not to be replaced by a carlessly cut one. 

 If one wish to do without the fork, or cannot obtain a 

 stick of the sort described, and one be pretty well experi- 

 enced in handling Reynard, a plain long stick may be used, 

 which, if laid over the varmint's neck, will hold it sufficiently 

 safe to allow one either to " cope " it or tie the legs 

 together. 



When the fox is once secured by the requisite forked 

 stick, in order to still further better the position of the 

 capturer, it should be grasped by the tail and extended to 

 its full length, when it may again be pegged down in the 

 position desired, by pushing the sides of the fork of the 

 stick into the ground, as far as they will comfortably go, 

 without hurting the varmint, just at the back of its ears, 

 but not tight down upon them. 



This completed to satisfaction, and the head of the fox 

 rendered quite immovable, either the fox may be killed or 

 its mouth secured, as may be desired. If the varmint's life 



C C 



