66 THE RABBIT 



It goes without saying that, where shooting is the 

 object in view, the more natural covert there is upon 

 a warren — in the shape of gorse, fern, heather, or 

 tussocks of grass — the better, not only for the rabbits, 

 but also for winged game, especially partridges and 

 woodcock. Natural shelter of this sort is always 

 attractive to the latter, and the enjoyment of a day's 

 rabbit-shooting is always heightened by coming 

 suddenly upon a covey that lies well in such ground 

 or flushing (and, let us hope, bagging) an unexpected 

 woodcock. 



The amount of fencing which may be required to 

 protect a warren adequately must depend wholly 

 upon circumstances. The ground may be so situated 

 as to be surrounded either wholly or in part by stone 

 walls, which only require to be topped with wire to 

 constitute an efficient rabbit-proof barrier. Where 

 this is the case a considerable saving of expense 

 may be effected ; for all that is needed, after stopping 

 holes and crannies, is to surmount the wall with wire- 

 netting, laid on sticks a yard long, in such a way as 

 to slope inwards, and so prevent the rabbits from 

 jumping out, the sticks being kept in their places 

 by heavy stones, and earth rammed into the inter- 

 stices. 



Where no such boundary walls exist, one must 



