66 NOXIOUS VERMIN. 



remaining space inside into nests a foot 

 square ; this leaves a passage-way nearly a 

 foot wide behind the nests. The top must 

 slope from the wall, and open partly or en- 

 tirely with hinges. These nests are easily 

 examined, and give the fowls all the secre- 

 cy they seem to require. Fig. 3 shows the 

 appearance of this series of nests when clo- 

 sed. Fig. 4 exhibits a view of the interior 

 arrangement. 



One of the greatest pests to a poultry- 

 yard are noxious vermin, and in some dis- 

 tricts they interpose serious obstacles to the 

 rearing of chickens. These are foxes, rack- 

 oons, rats, skunks, weasels, minks, muskrats, 

 and cats. They vary so much in their dif- 

 ferent degrees of cunning, that the same pre- 

 ventive will not apply to all, nor are the 

 same means equally successful. There is 

 also another difficulty. The snares employ- 

 ed against the enemy may recoil upon our- 

 selves ; and of this I remember a very re- 

 cent example. One of my neighbours, Mr. 

 E. B., who was much annoyed by rackoons, 

 set two steel traps, and upon visiting his 



