58 PRACTICAL PHEASANT REARING. 



shot or two effectually scares these " blackmailers," 

 and they remember the occurrence, and, if one is to 

 believe all one hears, tell their friends also to avoid 

 that particular locality. If any gunmaker has got a 

 good reliable pistol to carry shot a short distance with 

 accuracy, I could imagine it would be a very useful 

 thing in the keeper's pockets at this period of the 

 year. His hands are occupied, and he cannot always 

 have his gun in them, whilst a rat or a weazel may be 

 visible at any moment. Now, here is a hint to some 

 enterprising firm to bring out the " keeper's pistol." 



Hedgehogs are very destructive to young pheasants, 

 and should be particularly guarded against. I have 

 known them intrude at night and kill off the whole 

 brood, actually squeezing themselves between the bars 

 of the coop. These " gentlemen of the order of the 

 prickle " should be tackled with what they love best, 

 a stale bait. Indeed, it is an excellent plan to 

 institute a hedgehog corner in your field. Keep a 

 trap or two always going there, and as you catch your 

 hedgehog, keep throwing him down behind until you 

 collect together a most unsavoury heap. You will 

 soon rid yourself of the remainder of the tribe. 

 Certain kinds of vermin which are attractive to the 

 others appear to infest hedgehogs, and for a sumptuous 

 repast off your dead specimens will their late friends 

 and relatives come trooping in. 



Then as to weazels most destructive little beasts 

 I cannot hope to teach my readers how to catch 



