252 THE KEEPER'S BOOK 



to, the cover must be regularly supervised, wiring must 

 be carefully examined, draining carried out, and, if 

 necessary, lime occasionally scattered to counteract 

 the fouling of the ground, overcrowding avoided, and 

 evidences of disease carefully noted. 



Where no such natural warren exists, and it is pro- 

 posed to construct one, it would be to the advantage 

 of a keeper if he visited some well-known warren, and 

 took into view the natural conditions which he pro- 

 poses to imitate. In selecting his ground, he should 

 keep in view the following points: (i) The lie of 

 the land ; (2) the condition of the soil ; and (3) the 

 capacity for cover. The land chosen should in no case 

 be on clay soil or be rocky ground. Sandy soil is the 

 best, although peaty ground is not to be sneered at. 

 The place chosen should be fairly high, and of an un- 

 dulating nature. Great trouble will be saved if ground 

 can be found which has been already well burrowed, 

 so that the new stock laid down may soon find a home. 

 Where these burrows do not exist, the keeper and his 

 underlings must assist nature by some preliminary 

 digging, as we have described before. Where nothing 

 but a clay soil can be obtained, artificial mounds may 

 be constructed of a looser and more porous earth, sown 

 with grain seeds, and containing holes which can be 

 readily converted into burrows. An excellent form 

 of warren can be made by simply enclosing a piece 

 of moorland southern exposure where the heather is 

 not too rank, and which already contains rabbit 



