FERRETS AND RABBITS. 399 



out, and thus lose both time and rabbits, 

 whilst possibly you leave a dead rabbit or two 

 behind you when you leave that earth. 



I can, as a rule, kiH double the number of 

 rabbits when I am alone, that I can when I 

 have a party with me. I can kill, when by 

 myself, as many rabbits in three hours as I 

 can in six hours, when I have anybody with 

 me. Again, I can always kill more rabbits 

 with a gun than I can with nets, because no 

 noise is made to disturb the rabbits, by talk- 

 mg or trampling over the earths, and so they 

 bolt better. When alone, and with my gun, I 

 can kill nineteen out of every twent} rabbits 

 that do bolt. 



In ferreting hedge-rows it is necessary to 

 have some one with you, for in nine cases out 

 often, there is a ditch to the hedge-row, so 

 that a quick working ferret is liable to elude 

 you if you are alone. Therefore there should 

 be a man on each side t)f the hedge. 



