CONCERNING TRAPPING, SNARING, ETC. 47 



set in the evening or afternoon, because the 

 scent gets off and evaporates during the day, 

 whereas in the evening the dews fall and pre- 

 serve the scent freshly all night, thus warning 

 off the rabbits. The same thing applies to 

 trapping as well as snaring. I used to bet old 

 Dick a shilling that I would beat him with 

 twelve traps, and these were the terms of the 

 bet : Dick was to go with me and see me set 

 my traps, and then I was to go with him and 

 watch him set his traps ; and in the morning 

 we were both to visit the traps together. We 

 did so, and I always won ; and Dick would 

 say, "Well, I thought my traps were set as 

 well as yours. Jack, but you've beaten me, 

 that's certain." "Yes, Dick," I used to 

 answer, " I told the vermin not to come near 

 your traps, when you were setting them." 

 Neither Dick or father could understand it 

 at all. 



My father was a better trapper than most, so 

 I would say to him, " Now, father, you call 

 yourself a first-rate trapper" — which he 

 did, modesty not being the strong point in 



