VERMIN CATCHING, ETC. 127 



strychnine. Now as to the setting of gins. 

 The bait must never be put on the trap but 

 beyond it. 



This forces the animal to come over the trap. 

 Let this bait, if possible, be put about nine 

 inches from the ground, on a twig or something 

 of that sort, so that the animal is obliged to 

 jump or stand on its hind legs. 



The bait for a stoat should be placed near the 

 foot of a tree, or a branch that hangs or projects 

 nearly over the trap. 



As regards the fox, ought I, as a man doat- 

 ingly fond of hunting, to tell how Reynard is to 

 be taken ? 



However, as I do not write this for the 

 benefit of fox destroyers, but for game pre- 

 servers where no hounds are ever supposed to 

 come, and as I imagine no gentleman would 

 be guilty of trapping crafty Reynard, or allowing 

 his keepers to do so unless a pack was out of 

 reach, or there were a super-abundance of them, 

 why, I will tell you. 



You must know, all vermin, such as stoats, 

 weasels, polecats, martin-cats, and foxes, are like 

 dogs, exceedingly fond of rolling in any offensive 



