THE STOAT. 133 



bridge, as before observed, and if you should catch one 

 of them, remember to make the print of his feet in the 

 sand, which will enable you to know it better another 

 time. If you have not a hutch-trap, put at the place 

 where you have tracked him a small steel trap, and place 

 a brick on each side, so that he cannot avoid coming 

 over the trap, which must be covered carefully with fine 

 mould. Do this in the afternoon ; then cover it with a 

 thin board, that the fowls may not spring it in going to 

 roost ; then take the board or shelter away, and go in 

 the morning before the fowls move, and if you should 

 not catch him the first night, observe the same method 

 for a few nights more, and you will be sure of him. 



THE STOAT. 



IN all chicken-gardens and pheasantries, two or more 

 hutch or box traps should always remain set under the 

 walls or pales, baited with any small bird or chicken, 

 or with rabbits' and fowls' entrails. Let the traps be 

 placed on the outside, close under the walls or pales, 

 with the back part against them ; make a wing or low 

 paling, about eighteen inches high, with old pales, or 

 form a small hedge, about the same height, from each 

 end of the trap, extending four or five yards aslant, 

 and about two or three yards open at the end from the 

 wall, which will be a guide for stoats to enter into the 

 trap, for they like to run under such places ; and unless 



