TRAPS AND TRAPPING. 411 



page 406, he will never make the attempt, but will work away 

 at the wire itself where the light is clearly seen. Steel traps 

 may be set in artificial runs constructed as for the cat, but 

 of smaller dimensions, the trap itself also being of the reduced 

 size, or they may be placed in short pipes or drains cut 

 through the bank of a hedge, which the weasel and stoat 

 will be sure to search. Lastly, the figure of 4 trap may be 

 used for the weasel or stoat, but is scarcely heavy enough to 

 kill the polecat, which is very strong and tenacious of life. 

 It should always be remembered that steel-traps set for these 

 animals can be covered in either by earth or thorns, so as to 

 be quite safe from any kind of game larger than the diameter 

 of their own bodies. 



The rat is the most difficult of all the four-footed vermin 

 to trap, but when it takes to the field it is not so cunning as 

 in the house. A couple of gins set at the entrances to a space 

 constructed of thorns, and containing a live animal tied to a 

 peg, will be more likely to take the rat than if baited with a 

 dead bait, for the presence of a living being other than his 

 natural enemies, gives confidence, and he will enter boldly a 

 space constructed for his capture, from which he would other- 

 wise carefully keep away. When rats occur in situations 

 where they are likely to take game, they may generally be 

 ferreted, which is the most fatal method of destroying them, 

 or they may be poisoned in their holes when there is no 

 danger of injuring anything else. If, however, they are in 

 any numbers the assistance o'f a really useful professed rat- 

 catcher will always be desirable, as he will do more in two 

 or three nights than an ordinary keeper will effect in a 

 month. 



Compared with four-footed vermin, the birds are ten times 

 more difficult to trap, and their habits must be minutely 

 studied in order to obtain their presence at the keeper's 

 grand show. Two or three leading features must be well 

 noted. Thus, some feathered vermin strike their game on 

 the ground ; others will not touch it there. Some will take 

 a dead bait ; others will not go near it. Again, the egg of a 

 barn-door fowl is very attractive to all egg-destroyers, while 

 to the Falconidce it is perfectly innocent of all temptation. 

 There are certain birds which habitually perch on high posts, 



