3 2i Ground Vermin. 



but the dead bodies of others of their kind possess a rare 

 attraction for all the weasel tribe, and can usually be 

 turned to better account than by being paraded in that 

 abomination, a " keeper's larder." 



Besides the employment of a bait exactly at the trap, 

 steps may be taken to entice the vermin towards it, chiefly 

 by means of drags or false trails, drawn out in radiating 

 lines, so that any stoat or polecat at a distance of, say, 

 loyds. to 2oyds., coming upon one, follows it up, and is 

 thus lured to the gin. Two modes of forming these drags 

 are effective. For the first, a sheep's liver and lights 

 should be obtained and chopped up very small, care being 

 taken not to lose any blood. Mix with this a small 

 quantity of oil of aniseed, and place it in some vessel in 

 the sun until it becomes fairly putrid. This desirable 

 result obtained, make a small bag of coarse canvas, and 

 place the drag in it ; having tied this up, draw it after 

 you while the traps are being set. 



A second method is to obtain a good quantity of dried 

 or even fresh sprats, the former being preferable; pound 

 them up in a mortar, and having placed them in well- 

 corked pickle-bottles, hang them up where they will be 

 exposed to the sun for some ten days until they are 

 thoroughly decomposed. The oil contained in the fish is 

 thus obtained and has a particularly pungent odour. This 

 oil should be rubbed on some cloth or flannel, a bunch of 

 saturated material being dragged about similarly to the one 

 first named. Some essence of musk or oil of aniseed 

 added is perhaps an improvement. 



When employing the steel trap, it will be necessary, as 

 a preliminary, to discover whence the vermin come whose 

 capture is desired, then to ascertain as far as possible where 

 they have their hunting-grounds. When polecats, stoats, 

 or weasels leave their habitations, they generally wend 



Y 



