Rabbit Settlements 201 



This is a favourite spot from whence to get a shot at 

 them, but the aim must be deadly, or the rabbit will 

 escape though never so severely wounded. The holes are 

 eo numerous that he has never more than a yard to 

 scramble, and as he goes down into the earth his own 

 weight carries him on. If he can but live ten seconds 

 after the lead strikes him, he will generally escape you. 

 Watching patiently (without firing), after the twilight 

 has deepened into night, presently you are aware of a 

 longer, larger creature than a rabbit stealing out, seeming 

 to travel close to the earth : it is a badger. There are 

 almost always a couple somewhere about the warren. 

 Their residence is easily discovered because of the huge 

 heap of sand thrown out from the rabbit-hole they have 

 chosen ; and it is this ease of discovery that has caused 

 the diminution of their numbers by shot or spade. 



The ground sounds hollow underneath the foot — per- 

 haps half an acre is literally bored away under the surface ; 

 and you have to thread your way in and out a labyrinth 

 of holes, the earth about some of them perceptibly yield- 

 ing to your weight. There must be waggon-loads of the 

 sand that has been thrown out. Beyond this central 

 populous quarter suburbs of burrows extend in several 

 directions, and there are detached settlements fifty and a 

 hundred yards away. In ferreting this place the greatest 

 care has to be taken that the ferret is lined with a long 

 string, or so fed that he will not lie in ; otherwise, if he is 

 not picked up the moment he appears at the mouth of the 

 hole, he will become so excited at the number of rabbits, 

 and so thirsty for blood, that he will refuse to come forth. 



To dig for him is hopeless in that catacomb of tunnels; 

 there is nothing for it but to send a man day after day to 

 watch, and if possible to seize him while passing along 



