NATURAL HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA 



the freshest " hill " and expose the hole. Pour 

 down this hole a few ounces of carbon-bisulphide, 

 and stop up the hole with mud. The chemical will 

 evaporate, and the gas, being heavy, will travel along 

 the tunnels and suffocate the inhabitants. Carbon- 

 bisulphide is highly inflammable. 



A second method is to inject a potato tuber with 

 strychnine, and insert it into a fresh burrow. In- 

 stead of injecting the tuber, a wedge-shaped piece 

 may be cut out, strychnine laid in the cut, and the 

 wedge replaced. 



A third way is to pour water down their burrows 

 and drown them ; an abundance of water, however, is 

 usually needed. 



Still another way is to open up the burrow by 

 clearing away the freshest " hill," scoop out a hollow 

 on the floor of the burrow, set a trap in it, concealing 

 the trap by dusting loose soil over it. The burrow 

 is then closed by placing a small bit of leafy bush 

 over it, and covering with soil. The owner of the 

 burrow, anon, comes along to investigate, and gets 

 caught in the trap. Baiting the trap with a small 

 potato tuber or carrot is often effective. 



The Blesmol is sometimes shot. To do so the 

 newest mound is cleared, leaving just sufficient 

 damp soil to cover thinly the mouth of the tunnel. 

 A piece of leafy bush is then put over the hole and 

 some soil laid lightly over it, to exclude all light from 

 the hole. Retiring a few paces, the watcher must 

 sit silently with a shot gun until the Blesmol returns 

 156 



