38 JACK RABBITS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



The question of fences has already been discussed under the head of 

 prevention of injury to crops (pp. 33-34). Poisons, bounties, and natural 

 enemies will be considered in detail further on. The other schemes 

 ^vere found to be either impracticable or unworthy of recommendation 

 for use on a large scale. 



The most successful traps used in New South Wales have been yards 

 or inclosures made of rabbit-i^roof fence with openings whicb allow the 

 rabbits to enter but prevent their getting out. Such traps have been 

 found most efficient in dry seasons, when food and water are scarce. 

 Several methods of using electricity were submitted, but all were 

 found impracticable. Firing might be employed in some cases, but 

 is attended with more or less danger. Cutting off the animals from 

 food can only be used under certain favorable conditions. 



Hunting and trai)ping parties have not accomplished much in Aus- 

 tralia, but in certain parts of the United States a modification of this 

 method has proved to be the most successful means of destroying large 

 numbers of jack rabbits. (See chapter on rabbit drives, pp. 47-G4.) 



POISON. 



In this country i)oison has been used to some extent, although less 

 successfully than the gun and club. As none of the jack rabbits bur- 

 row, tbe poison must be scattered about on the surface of the ground 

 where the rabbits are likely to find it, but the bait should not be 

 placed where domesticated animals or poultry can eat it. Pronn'scuous 

 scattering of poison in the orchard and vineyard is not to be recom- 

 mended under ordinary circumstances, and when it can not be i)laced 

 in holes or out of the reach of animals for which it was not intended 

 the danger is greatly increased. The iini>ortan<'e of this fact can hardly 

 be overestimated, and every possible precaution should be taken in 

 using poison for jack rabbits. In Australia experiments have been 

 made with strychnine, phosphorus, arsenic, corrosive sublimate, lead 

 salts, tartar emetic, barium carbonate, and sulphate of iron. Arsenic 

 may be sim[)ly sprinkled on any food which will attract the rabbits, 

 but it is more effectual when dissolved ami the bait soaked in the 

 solution. Paris green, London jiurple, lead salts, tartar emetic, barium 

 carbonate, and 8nli)hate()f iron have not been fouiul sufliciently active 

 for killing rabbits, and corrosive snblinnite has a powerful acrid and 

 metallic taste, which may render it unpalatable to them. 



Of all the jjoisons mentioned above, strychnine is the most effective. 

 As the ordinary crystals of strychnine are almost insolnble in water, 

 the suli)hate should be used when the poison is to be dissolved. It 

 may be i)laced on bits of watermelon, cantaloupe, or vegetables of 

 which the rabbits are fond, and scattered around the orchard or vine- 

 yard. Kabbits are said to be attracted by a mixtnr«' composed of half 

 a teaspoonful of powdered strychnine, two teasjwon tills of. fine salt, and 

 four of granulated sugar, thoroughly shaken up and placed in small 



