54 A YEAR OF SPORT AND NATURAL HISTORY. 



rabbits are very thick on the ground it is difficult to deal with more 

 than a small portion of their underground haunts ; besides which, to 

 force rabbits to stay long out of their holes is to expose them to 

 danger from all their illegitimate foes. 



There are other ways of getting the rabbit to stay afield. A 

 piece of tow steeped in paraffin is laid at the mouth of the burrow, 

 and two or three da3's afterwards, when the rabbits have gone out 

 to feed, the entrance is stopped with a spade. This is a common 

 way, but it is troublesome, and the burrow is tainted for a long 

 time. A much better method, and one quite new to the present 

 writer, is described in the Badminton Library by Mr. Lascelles. 

 Boys are employed to stick pegs at every burrow's mouth, each peg 

 having affixed to it a scrap of white paper. The keeper, going 

 round his coverts, can easily see if a single hole has been passed. 

 He carries a small bottle of spirit of tar with him, and with a feather 

 touches each piece of paper. This keeps the rabbits out, but 

 would not keep them out if pushed by dogs, therefore the boys 

 are sent to stop- each earth loosely with mould. 



Shooting rabbits to ferrets is a sport which every real sportsman 

 delights in. There is a certain mystery about it, an expectancy, 

 an uncertainty, and the chance of disappointment which enchances 

 good luck. The muzzled ferret is put down near the hole ; we 

 all — keeper, " guns," beaters, helpers, and even the dogs — concen- 

 trate our thoughts on the little beast, as he creeps about. Does he 

 scent his prey, and will he go in ? If he will not, it is a sign that 

 the rabbits are from home. He enters, and we are fixed to the 

 spot we stand on — not a word do we speak — we hardly breathe. 

 Presently the ground under our feet seems to shake — it is the 

 scamper of the rabbit underground— a moment more and he will 



