42 WILD SPORTS OF THE HIGHLANDS. [cHAP. 1V 
almost instantaneously, it is perhaps as merciful a way of put- 
ting an end to noxious and troublesome animals as can be devised, 
and no method can be more certain. I have always been of 
opinion that nine keepers out of ten who carry guns are but of 
little use in destroying vermin. The grand desideratum in pre- 
serving game is, that the animals should be left in perfect quiet. 
A man walking about with a gun in his hand, shooting at mag- 
pies and crows, does nearly as much mischief to the preserves 
as if he shot at the game itself. 
A quiet intelligent trapper does more good in killing vermin 
than a dozen men with guns. The former sees a pair of crows, 
or a stoat ; if he is well skilled in his profession, the creatures are 
dead by the next day, having been caught without noise and 
without disturbing a single head of those animals which are re- 
quired to be kept in peace and quiet. The shooting keeper in 
making his way through woods and coverts to get shots at ver- 
min, often fails in killing it, but is sure to disturb and molest 
the game, driving it here and there, and exposing it to the view 
and attacks of hawks and poachers. JI have always a far better 
opinion of the usefulness of a keeper when I see him with a 
number of traps on his shoulder, than when he carries his gun 
always with him. It is no bad amusement occasionally to ac- 
company an intelligent and experienced trapper on his rounds, 
aud see his plans to deceive and entice the fox and the otter, 
the hawk or the raven. 
In catching all these animals, the spot to be selected for trap- 
ping should not be near their abodes or nests, but in that part 
of the outskirts of the covers where they wander during the 
night time in pursuit of prey. Almost every kind of vermin 
hunts in the open country and fields, wherever they may lie con- 
cealed during the day: for knowing that rabbits, hares, and the 
other animals which form their principal food, resort to the pas- 
tures, the corn-fields, or the waterside to feed during the night ; 
to these same places do their hungry enemies follow them. Hawks 
and crows too, who feed in the day-time, are perfectly aware that 
they havea better chance of seeing and catching their prey in the 
Open country than in the woods and covers. Besides which, 
a hungry fox or hawk hunting for game, is jess on his guard 
than when prowling quietly and cautiously through the woods. 
