132 TO TRAP VERMIN: THE POLECAT. 



their earths, by leaving their billot and urine at their 

 entrances. The latter, being more cleanly, leave them 

 the filthy habitation. Rabbits they rob by frightening 

 them away. When they are after their prey, in cover, 

 they lie down close in the runs where game come to their 

 feed, and throw on to them. When at feed they roll 

 and creep about, till within throw, at which they are 

 very dexterous. In dark nights, they look poultry 

 down j their eyes being like small balls of fire, make the 

 fowls reach their heads down till they fall. 



THE POLECAT. 



PLANT traps by the sides of warm sunny hedges, with a 

 leveret or young rabbit hung over the bridge rather more 

 than its length, so as to make the polecats jump, when 

 they will drop into the trap; or make little arches, a yard 

 long, at the corners of the posts of gates or stiles, turn 

 them as the fence goes, through which they will be sure 

 to turn, seeing the light appear from the other side. 

 Plant your trap in the centre. The following is another 

 method of destroying them : at night, after your fowls 

 are gone to roost, sift some sand before every little hole 

 you suspect they may come in at, and look at them again 

 in the morning early before the fowls are moving, and 

 you will soon discern the prints of their feet ; then set a 

 common hutch-trap, baited with a piece of fowl or small 

 bird of any kind ; hang the bait on the nail over the 



