134 The Confessions of a Poacher. 



rabbits run from wood or covert to field or 

 pasture. Through a hole in the wall or fence 

 a wooden trough or box is inserted. As 

 the rabbits run through, the floor opens be- 

 neath their weight, and they drop into the 

 "well." Immediately the pressure is .removed 

 the floor springs back to its original position, and 

 thus a score or more rabbits are often taken 

 in a single night. In the construction of these 

 " well-traps," rough and unbarked wood is 

 used, though, even after this precaution, the 

 rabbits will not take them for weeks. Then, 

 they become familiar ; the weather washes 

 away all scent, and the "well" is a whole- 

 sale engine of destruction. All surface traces 

 of the existence of the trap must be 

 covered over with dead leaves and woodland 

 debris. The rabbits, of course, are taken alive, 

 and the best way of killing them is by 

 stretching them across the knee, and so dislo- 

 cating the spine. If the keeper once finds out 

 the trap the game is up. Whilst it lasts, how- 

 ever, it kills more rabbits than every other 

 stroke of woodcraft the poacher knows. 



