323 Ground Vermin. 



should be placed one with the spring inside the field and 

 the other with its spring outside the gate, so that on each 

 side one fair trap is offered. 



These gins, as will be seen, do not require any bait, but 

 the employment of one of the " drags " already described, 

 and in the manner named, will be found advantageous, 

 and likely to lure vermin towards the gateway, where the 

 tracks come to a centre at the gap in which the traps 

 happen to be set. There are often in close proximity to 

 gates and openings in hedges or banks some large stone, 

 or perhaps a heap of small ones, deposited there to be out 

 of the way. Such are likely places where vermin would 

 come and rub themselves, which they do in much the 

 same fashion as a cat. Here, again, an obviously favour- 

 able chance is presented for effecting a capture, and one 

 or two gins may be artistically placed in close proximity 

 to, and at the bottom of, the most forward part of either 

 stone or heap of stones. A varmint passing such an 

 eminently suitable place for rubbing itself against is almost 

 sure to get into difficulties with any gin that may be set. 

 If this manner of tilling is relied upon, no bait is required ; 

 but if the spot be chosen for and considered a good place 

 at which to use bait, the most suitable of those enumerated 

 may be employed with a trap set accordingly. 



Another suitable position for the gins is along a rabbit- 

 run that has been formed parallel to a hedge or a bank 

 containing rabbit-burrowings, and about two or three yards 

 out from it. There the traps may be placed right along 

 the run at irregular intervals of from 6yds. to i5yds. 

 or so, but precaution must be taken to set them, not 

 on the flat patches of the runs, but on that part where a 

 rabbit, should it pass, would not put its feet. This 

 particular must be remembered when placing gins on 

 rabbit-runs, for in any place where these animals are at all 



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