VERMIN 117 



it is difficult for partridges to nest and successfully hatch 

 their young. The reason for this is obvious : the modern 

 use of cement has quite baffled them in trying to under- 

 mine granary and stable floors ; while sewer-pipes have 

 displaced old-fashioned conduits, so that they no longer 

 find farm-steadings a congenial home. They therefore 

 take possession of rabbit-holes, where, in many cases, 

 they are allowed to harbour and breed without restraint. 

 Prior to the passing of the Ground Game Act, rabbits 

 were in most cases killed by the use of traps, with the 

 result that many rats were secured. Nowadays, rabbits 

 on a farm are generally let to professional rabbit- 

 catchers, who kill them in a simpler way, namely, by 

 snares, with the result that rats get off scot-free. A large 

 East Lothian farmer who had the shooting on his farm 

 informed me that he would not allow a snare to be set. 

 In trapping the rabbits the previous year, the man he 

 employed caught 1 14 large rats. What the result would 

 have been had these rats been allowed to remain and 

 breed, it is not difficult to imagine. No effort should 

 therefore be spared in order to kill down this species of 

 vermin. 



Game also suffers, though not to a large extent, from 

 adders. I have seen one kill very young grouse and 

 black game, and on dissection found that another had 

 swallowed three nearly fledged larks. As the hand of 

 every one is against adders, nobody misses a chance 

 of killing them whenever an opportunity presents 

 itself. 



