Ground Vermin The Box Trap for Rats. 413 



however, built on the ground will suffer if rats are not 

 poisoned and ferreted out at sufficiently frequent intervals. 



In dwelling-houses and the like the gin may be employed, 

 if it be covered with chaff amongst which corn has been 

 mixed, and whereon the vermin have regaled after their 

 wariness has been subdued. One disadvantage which the 

 gin has is that its working frightens the uncaught rats, and 

 continual trapping of comrades drives the others away, so 

 that often two or three systematic catchings are necessary 

 before the ever-encroaching vermin are cleared out. 



Another trap used a good deal is what is generally termed 

 the box trap ; its employment, however, is uncertain as to 

 results, and although it very often proves efficacious enough, 

 the idea in its original form is somewhat poor. The trap is 

 much the same as the ordinary mouse trap, only considerably 

 larger, often being double, i.e., having two separate openings 

 in opposite directions, each side being a complete trap. 

 The system, however, is decidedly faulty, because depending 

 solely upon the bait being seized by the vermin and pulled 

 to set the spring off, it has in this fact a considerable objec- 

 tion, and therefore, if any other sort with fair working 

 capabilities is to be obtained, the box trap may be very 

 conveniently laid aside. As, however, it may be employed 

 on many occasions, it should not be regarded as by any 

 means useless. Before being used, the inside portion of the 

 trap adjacent to the hook upon which the bait hangs must 

 be rubbed with aniseed oil, and whatever the bait be (for 

 preference the head of a red herring), it should be fixed 

 upon the hook, and the trap tied open. All must be served 

 in this manner, and placed about where the rats frequent, 



