LETT Ell XTV. 145 



In the keeper's catalogue of vermin, wliicli, of liis own 

 making, like a lawyer's bill, is a pretty large one, the 

 bird of wisdom, as well as the bird of ill omen, is put 

 down as a debtor. The plea against the owls, however, 

 is upon a parallel with the accusation against those poor, 

 harmless animals, hedgehogs, which are gravely accused 

 of not only sucking eggs, but, by some, of milking cows 

 as well. The owl never leaves his place of shelter until 

 the shades of evening are falling ; and although a young 

 rabbit may occasionally be justly laid to his charge, he 

 seldom offends further against the Game Laws ; and the 

 great service he renders farmers and the public generally 

 in destroying such quantities of mice, ought to ensure 

 his protection. Against hawks and kites I admit a true 

 bill ought to be found — but spare the owls. 



Polecats- and stoats have their young in the months of 

 March and April, producing five or six, and sometimes 

 seven, at a litter, which are laid up in an old hollow tree 

 or rabbit's hole in a dry bank, in cracks of rocks, and 

 old walls. The best traps in which these vermin may 

 be caught are the wooden boxes, called in some coun- 

 tries witches, and the common figure of 4, with a stone 

 tile. As they almost invariably have their runs by the 

 side of hedges and walls, the wooden box is a sure trap. 

 These boxes may be made of any size, and I have used 

 them constantly. Mine were made with both ends open, 

 and two falling doors instead of one. They were placed 

 first for a week or ten days quite open, without being 

 set ; and when afterwards set seldom failed to produce 

 some tenant of the weasel tribe, safely, though harm- 

 lessly, secured. I have seen them also used on a large 

 scale, to catch rabbits. The wood bounds being made 



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