Ferreting 215 



that keepers have lost. A ferret is, however, a diffi- 

 cult thing to identify and swear to. 



Those who go poaching with ferrets choose a 

 moonlight night : if it is dark it is difficult to find the 

 holes. Small buries are best because so much more 

 easily managed, and the ferret is usually lined. If a 

 large bury is attempted, they take the first half-dozen 

 that bolt and then move on to another. The first 

 rabbits come out rapidly ; the rest linger as if warned 

 by the fate of their companions. Instead of wasting 

 time over them it is best to move to another place. 



Unless a keeper should chance to pass up the 

 hedgerow there is comparatively little risk, for the 

 men are in the ditch and invisible ten yards away 

 under the bushes and make no noise. It is more 

 difficult to get home with the game : but it is managed. 

 Very small buries with not more than four or five 

 holes may be ferreted even on the darkest nights by 

 carefully observing beforehand where the holes are 

 situate 



