The Confessions of a 'Poacher. 125 



is added if the ferret curls itself up for an after- 

 dinner sleep. Then it has either to be left or 

 dug out. The latter process is long, the burrows 

 ramify far into the mound, and it is not just 

 known in which the ferret remains. If it 

 be left it is well to bar every hole with 

 stones, and then return with a dead rabbit when 

 hunger succeeds the gorged sleep. It is to 

 guard against such occasions as these that 

 working ferrets are generally muzzled. A 

 cruel practise used to obtain among poachers 

 of stitching together the lips of ferrets to pre- 

 vent their worrying rabbits and then " laying 

 up." For myself I made a muzzle of soft string 

 which was effective, and at the same time com- 

 fortable to wear. When there was a chance 

 of being surprised at night work I occasionally 

 worked ferrets with a line attached ; but this is 

 an objectionable practice and does not always 

 answer. There may be a root or stick in which 

 the line gets entangled, when there will be 

 digging and no end of trouble to get the ferret 

 out. From these facts, and the great uncertainty 

 of ferreting, it will be understood why poachers 



