234 THE BABBIT. 



downwards when a rabbit places its weight upon it, 

 returning to its natural position immediately the 

 weight is removed. Directly below this false floor 

 is the wooden box into which the deceived rabbit 

 falls, to remain a prisoner till the owner of the 

 trap comes along to empty the box. The whole 

 thing must be made to work freely and silently, 

 even though thoroughly saturated by rain. 



This device is best set in position in the spring, 

 being placed in a locality which rabbits always 

 frequent. All spring the false floor is left locked, 

 so that the young rabbits become accustomed to 

 using the trap as a natural runway, care having 

 been taken to stop up the other gaps in the wall 

 above and below the box. By August, if all goes 

 well, numbers of rabbits will be passing nightly 

 over the false floor, regarding the tunnel as their 

 own property, and at any time the owner of the 

 trap likes he can release the false floor, and he is 

 pretty sure of a haul. 



The advantage of this trap is that, when once 

 made, it lasts for years, providing good waterproofed 

 wood be used ; but it must be well made, any noise 

 or hitch in its working being likely to detract from 

 its value. 



NETTING. 



I have had many an exciting night netting 

 rabbits at the tail-end of the season, though for 

 this one must know one's ground pretty well, and 

 the runways of the rabbits that frequent it. Also 

 a clever dog, trained to the work, is more or less 

 necessary. 



One waits till fall of darkness, by which time 

 the rabbits have left the wood and are well away 

 at their feeding-grounds ; then, very quietly, one 



