34 THE TRAPPER'S ART. 



perature will readily run all over the trap and chain. It 

 should be set near the haunts of the fox. A bed of ashes, 

 chaff, or light earth should conceal the trap, and it should be 

 fastened to a movable clog of six or eight pounds' weight, as 

 directed on page 18. Wool, moss, leaves, or some other soft 

 substance should be packed lightly under the pan and around 

 the jaws. The surface of the earth in the neighborhood of 

 the trap should be brushed with a quill or bush, so that all 

 will seem natural. Scraps or small pieces of fried meat, rolled 

 in honey, should be scattered over the bed of the trap, except 

 where the pan is. Care should be taken to erase all foot- 

 prints. To make the allurement doubly sure, obtain from 

 the female of the dog, fox, or wolf the matrix in the season of 

 coition, and preserve it in a quart of alcohol tightly corked. 

 Leave a small portion of this preparation on something near 

 the trap ; and then, putting some of it on the bottom of your 

 boots from time to time, strike large circles in two different 

 directions, leading round to the trap. A piece of bloody meat 

 may be drawn on these circles at the same time. The Fox, 

 on striking this trail, will be very sure to follow it round to 

 the trap and be caught. 



Another method practised by woodmen is to set the trap in 

 a spring that does not freeze over in winter, placing it about 

 half an inch under water, and covering the space within the 

 jaws with a piece of moss that rises above the water. A bait 

 of meat should be placed in such a position that the Fox, in 

 taking it, will be likely to put his foot on the moss, to prevent 

 wetting it. The essence of the skunk is sometimes used in 

 this case, in connection with the bait, with good effect ; but 

 most trappers prefer the preparation in alcohol, above men- 

 tioned. 



Another good way is to obtain from the kennel of some 

 tame Fox (if such can be found) a few quarts of loose earth 

 taken from the place where the animal is accustomed to urin- 

 ate. Set your trap in this material, and bait and smooth the 

 bed as before. The Fox, cunning as he is, is not proof against 

 such attractions. 



