398 AN ENGLISH GAMEKEEPER. 



are using the gun, and not nets, at large 

 earths, you must take special precautions. 

 Go up to the earths very quietly, taking care 

 not to tread on the earths, or shake them in 

 any way ; when you are within ten yards, 

 throw the ferret to the hole you wish him to 

 enter, then stand back twenty five 3^ards from 

 the earth, and have your gun ready. 



The rabbits will come out and sit at the 

 mouth of the hole, before making for fresh 

 earths ; shoot them but don't go to pick them 

 up, let them remain were they were killed. 

 If you move you are bound to shake the 

 earths, and then good-bye to any more rabbits 

 bolting. If, on the other hand, you remain 

 perfectly still, you will secure most of the 

 rabbits belonging to that earth, killing them 

 as they appear and not attempting to pick 

 them up until the ferret comes out. If you 

 move up to the earths to pick up a single 

 rabbit you will betray your presence, and the 

 remaining rabbits, will be very chary of 

 bolting ; the ferret will probably kill one or 

 more and then lay up, so you have to dig him 



